GhLinks Media
Police have identified two people killed in a murder-suicide at a Glendale apartment, and the victim was set to graduate this week.
Glendale police identified them as 24-year-old Monet Newton and 22-year-old Chase Cooper.
“These situations are tragic all the way around when you have the loss of life in any way, shape or form,” said Jose Santiago, a spokesperson for Glendale police. “But it’s even more tragic that this family was getting ready to celebrate something so special, something that she worked so hard for.”
On Tuesday, around 12:15 p.m., authorities were called to an apartment complex near 79th Avenue and Union Hills Road, just north of the Arrowhead Towne Center. There, officers found Newton and Cooper dead.
Santiago said Newton and Cooper were in a romantic relationship for less than a year before breaking up a few days ago.
Authorities believe that Cooper shot and killed Newton before turning the gun on himself.
Newton was set to graduate from the Master‘s program at Grand Canyon University. Police say family members flew into town on Tuesday to celebrate the accomplishment, but they grew concerned when she didn‘t pick them up from the airport and wasn’t answering her phone.
Family and friends showed up at her apartment.
“There was no signs of any kind of break-in because the family friend that responded first, they had to force their way into the apartment,” Santiago said. “I know that when family members arrived, they were trying to use a key, but there was a secondary lock on the door, so they were unable to enter. And at that point, the family friend had to use force to go in.”
Once inside, family members found the bodies and called 911.
Police say Cooper did not live at the apartment.
School officials confirmed Newton received a bachelor’s degree in psychology at GCU in 2022.
She then studied online for her master’s of science in industrial and organizational psychology.
She was scheduled to participate in GCU’s commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at Global Credit Union Arena.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Monet and her family during this difficult time. We are making counseling or support services available to anyone in the GCU family who knew Monet,” the school said in a statement.
