GILBERT, AZ — Gilbert police are investigating a death at an apartment complex near Recker and Warner roads.
Officers were called to the scene around 7:30 a.m. Friday.
According to police paperwork, police were notified about several gunshots, a woman’s scream and the sound of a car speeding away from an apartment complex.
The victim, 42-year-old Kristie Bobbitt, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in the parking lot.
Officers reviewed surveillance footage which recorded the suspect vehicle and audio of about 14 rapid gunshots, paperwork says.
The victim’s estranged husband was identified as the suspect.
Investigators learned that the estranged husband, 42-year-old Phillip Daniel Bobbitt, had initiated divorce proceedings but they had not been finalized.
Police documents say friends reported that Bobbitt had a history with firearms, that the victim was “fearful” of him, and that they would meet for custodial exchanges of their two children.
Police learned that the children were at Bobbitt’s residence when the shooting occurred and that he was supposed to meet to do the exchange of the children.
Documents show that after the shooting occurred, Bobbitt reportedly texted his father saying he shot the victim and told his employer that, “I killed my wife this morning.”
He also told his employer, according to documents, that their “kids are better off without her.”
Officials located Bobbitt’s vehicle near the Superstition Mountains. Bobbitt was found in the desert nearby with a phone and handgun. He reportedly told officials he planned to kill himself, but he surrendered to officials.
Another firearm and ammunition were found in Bobbitt’s truck.
