Rylee Montgomery as well as her unborn child died at the scene.
An Arizona man has been accused of fatally shooting his 16-year-old pregnant girlfriend after repeatedly threatening her, according to police.
Michael Sanchez, 18, was arrested after he allegedly shot his girlfriend, Rylee Montgomery, to death. Two of the girls’ friends were also shot. Montgomery, as well as her unborn child, died at the scene.
Montgomery’s pregnant friend, as well as a 22-year-old woman, were transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition, the Buckeye Police Department said.
“Buckeye police tracked [Sanchez} down to a home in Avondale where they took him into custody with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and Avondale Police. Sanchez has been booked into jail on multiple felony charges,” the police said.
In a GoFundMe post, Montgomery’s stepmother wrote, “Our sweet girl fell victim to a controlling boy,” and said that Sanchez became abusive in February once the teen became pregnant and rejected his disturbing ultimatum to “kill the baby.”
“He started off very sweet and nice to her. Once he got her pregnant in February, it was all over. After telling her to ‘kill the baby,’ and when she refused, he turned his anger on her, threatening her numerous times. He even went so far to choke her at our house.”
Amy recounted that Montgomery ended the relationship in March, after which Sanchez allegedly “decided to point a gun at her face and told her she wasn’t allowed.”
“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 told 12 On Your Side news. “So, she called Avondale police and told them, added it to the report and then three hours later, she was gone.”
The attack left one of Montgomery’s friends with at least three gunshot wounds, while the other pregnant victim was hit in the back and nearly bled out before being forced into an emergency delivery of her baby boy at just 25 weeks, according to the fundraiser. Sanchez fled following the shooting and was later apprehended at a residence in Avondale, roughly 18 miles away.
At the time of the shooting, Sanchez was reportedly wearing an ankle monitor stemming from an order issued in March related to a DUI charge, according to court documents obtained by AZ Family. He is expected to appear in court as soon as next week.
