Suspect Arrested in Deadly Tempe Marketplace Shooting Linked to Online Gun Deal Gone Wrong

TEMPE, Ariz. — Tempe police announced the arrest of a 20-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old during a midday meetup at the bustling Tempe Marketplace shopping center.

The incident unfolded around 11 a.m. on Monday, December 1, in a parking lot near Road Runner Sports, located at the intersection of McClintock Drive and Rio Salado Parkway, south of the Loop 202 freeway. What began as an arranged exchange for a firearm—trading money and a ring—quickly escalated into violence, leaving one young man dead and his girlfriend unharmed but shaken.

The victim, identified as Dominic Baysinger, a 19-year-old local resident, was accompanying his girlfriend to complete the online sale when the suspect allegedly opened fire. Baysinger succumbed to his injuries at the scene despite immediate emergency response efforts. "This could have been completely avoided had the suspect not decided to commit an armed robbery and ultimately shoot and kill the 19-year-old victim," Tempe prosecutors stated in court documents following the arrest.

The suspect, 20-year-old Fernando Gallegos, fled the area immediately after the shooting but was apprehended by authorities on Tuesday. He was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on charges including first-degree murder, conspiracy, and armed robbery with a deadly weapon. Gallegos is being held on a $1.2 million bond as the investigation continues, with detectives recovering a gun at the scene that may tie directly to the crime.

Tempe Police Department spokesperson Jessica Ells emphasized the department's swift action, noting that Baysinger had wisely chosen a public, daytime location and brought a companion—standard safety tips for online deals that, tragically, were not enough to prevent the ambush. "We commend the family for their cooperation and are working tirelessly to ensure justice," Ells said.

This shooting marked the second deadly incident in Tempe on the same morning, following a separate double homicide at a nearby Little Caesars pizza shop just hours earlier. The back-to-back tragedies stretched police resources thin, delaying public updates on the Marketplace case and leaving shoppers in the popular outdoor mall—home to over 100 stores and restaurants—reeling from the sudden wave of violence. Witnesses described a scene of chaos, with families fleeing the area amid scattered holiday decorations and midday crowds.

Online marketplaces have increasingly become breeding grounds for such robberies, with experts urging users to utilize designated "safe exchange zones" at police stations or opt for shipping services to mitigate risks. 17GEN4