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Four teens arrested in connection to the murder of a 17-year-old in November

Police say 17-year-old Marc Leyva was killed during a premeditated robbery
Posted at 10:54 PM, Dec 20, 2023
and last updated 2023-12-22 00:24:37-05

PHOENIX — Four teenagers have been arrested in connection to the murder of 17-year-old Marc Leyva, who was shot and killed in November.

Police say that on November 28, 18-year-old Dareon Harris, 19-year-old Leonard Brown, 18-year-old Takari Humphreys, and an unidentified boy under the age of 18, were involved in a premeditated robbery that resulted in the death of Leyva.

Family told ABC15 that Leyva was shot outside an apartment complex near 7th and Southern avenues while he was visiting a friend.

Newly released court documents show that Leyva and his friend were planning to buy a firearm from Harris. Harris and the unidentified teen told investigators that they had instead planned on robbing Leyva. Court documents do not state why the shooting occurred.

"They shot and killed him, and they didn't take anything from him. The money he had, he had everything in his wallet. They just left him to die," said Rosario Canales, Leyva's mother.

Police say there were dozens of bullet casings in the parking lot after the incident.

Canales said she felt betrayed when she learned that Harris was accused of killing her son — someone she thought was her son's friend.

"One of the suspects has been with out family, spend the night at our house. Has gone to parties with us, has been around our family," she said.

Part of the ongoing grief is knowing Levya’s 6-year-old brother, will grow up without him. Teammates on his three soccer leagues are missing their defender. Canales said she can’t stop thinking about one of her last conversations with her son.

“He asked me, ‘Mom can you give me your Christmas this year?’ I said, 'Yeah mijo, I’ll go ahead and give it to you.' And I never got a chance to give it to him,” she said.

All four were booked on charges including first-degree murder, attempted robbery, and aggravated assault.

An online fundraiser has been set up to support Leyva's mother.