‘It was a baby girl’: Man, 18, accused of killing pregnant teen, unborn child; shooting 2 others

BUCKEYE, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) — A teen and her unborn baby are dead, along with two others, including another pregnant teen, in the hospital following a shooting Thursday night.

According to the Buckeye Police Department, the shooting happened outside a home in the Westpark neighborhood around 8:15 p.m.

Police said 16-year-old Rylee Montgomery’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, 18-year-old Michael Sanchez, shot and killed her and their unborn child.

Sanchez was also accused of shooting two of Montgomery’s friends, a pregnant 17-year-old girl and a 22-year-old woman, who both were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Carissa Planalp, of the Buckeye Police Department, said two men were seen running from the scene before officers arrived. Early Friday morning, Planalp confirmed Sanchez was taken into custody in connection with the shooting.

Sanchez was booked into a Maricopa County jail on two counts of first-degree murder, endangerment and interference with a monitor device.

Montgomery’s family said she loved animals, makeup and the beach.

“She saw the good in everybody and [had a] heart of gold,” Amy Montgomery, Rylee’s stepmother, said.

The teenager was 14 weeks pregnant with a baby girl she’ll never have the chance to meet.

“She did not know it was a baby girl. We’re going to have a gender reveal on the 7th of June to tell her,” Amy Montgomery said.

The stepmother says her worst nightmare has become a reality.

“It’s like somebody ripped my freaking heart out,” Amy Montgomery said. “She was so scared of him, and we tried to get her help.”

Amy Montgomery said Sanchez hated Rylee’s other pregnant friend because she tried to break them up.

“I definitely think he went there with full intention on killing both [17-year-old victim] and Rylee,” she said.

Before the murder, Amy Montgomery said her family contacted Buckeye and Avondale police more than once because they said Sanchez kept threatening to kill Rylee. The family says they feel like law enforcement did little to protect her.

“He sent her a picture of himself with a gun pointed at his head and a text telling her, ‘I’m going to get you and then I’m going to take care of myself,’” Amy Montgomery said. “So, she called Avondale police and told them, added it to the report and then three hours later, she was gone.”

At the time of the murder, Sanchez was wearing an ankle monitor because authorities said he had taken off from police and crashed his car after a road rage incident in March.

“I hope and pray that they charge him with the max and he gets what he deserves. It’s never going to bring her back ... we’re left with just memories,” Amy Montgomery said.

The injured pregnant 17-year-old ended up delivering her baby Thursday night at 25 weeks, according to the stepmother. She said her little boy, weighing just 1 pound, is also fighting for his life.

A GoFundMe was set up to help raise money for Rylee’s family, as her mother is additionally in the hospital following a crash from earlier this month.