Girlfriend of man shot during protest in Phoenix demands justice

Paul Franco, 51, was shot multiple times and died. The woman who shot him claims she acted in self-defense.

PHOENIX — 12News has spent the last week continuing to investigate what happened to 51-year-old Paul Franco, who was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Phoenix apartment complex on July 4. His girlfriend is now calling on Phoenix police to charge the woman who shot him multiple times, even though she claims she acted in self-defense.

12News is not naming the woman, who claims self-defense, because she is not charged with any crime.

“We threw eggs and they threw stones at us.”

In an exclusive interview, Stephanie Renteria said she and Franco walked to Steele Indian School Park that evening to watch the fireworks at the Fabulous Phoenix Fourth event when an argument broke out between Franco and several pro-Palestinian protesters.

After Phoenix police broke up the argument, Renteria and Franco returned to their apartment, The Lex on Central, about a block north of the fireworks display. The protesters followed them and the verbal exchange continued.

“We threw eggs and they threw stones at us. And after throwing stones, some of them jumped over the wall,” Renteria said.

She said several people followed a car onto the apartment’s private property. Renteria was struck by an unidentified woman who was in the group of protesters, she said.

“I just remember a woman coming up to me and saying, ‘You threw a damn egg at me,’ and then she hit me,” Renteria said.

According to police, one person was stabbed during the physical altercation in the parking lot. A woman then shot Franco. In an interview with police, she said she shot him in self-defense. Renteria is adamant that Franco did not fire his weapon first, but was shot while defending her life.

“It was them, they were the ones who shot first. I just remember a black shadow walking towards Paul and shooting him,” Renteria said.

“Don’t go to these protests.”

12News has learned that Phoenix police obtained a search warrant for a Phoenix apartment where the woman, who claimed self-defense, lives with her father. The search warrant was executed in the early morning hours of July 5 and relates to the Franco murder investigation.

The woman’s father, David, spoke to 12News about what Phoenix police officers told him when they broke his windows and the lock on his front door.

“They don’t tell me anything. They do this and break my windows. Why? He says, ‘There’s been a murder.’ That’s all he says,” David said.

12News asked David what his daughter told him about the events of the night of July 4th.

“No, she didn’t tell me anything. She said there was an incident. That’s all,” David said. “I told her not to go to these protests. You know, there’s no point. There’s nothing to be gained, only trouble. And she doesn’t listen.”

At the end of the conversation, 12News asked him to speak to his daughter. He told us to walk around the back of the apartment where his daughter was coming home.

When we reached out for comment, the woman refused to get out of her car and drove away. Her attorney said they would not comment on the shooting because the investigation is ongoing.

12News has learned that this woman is one of over a dozen people suing the Phoenix Police Department for wrongfully arresting her during a Black Lives Matter protest in October 2020. That lawsuit is ongoing and has not yet gone to trial.

Renteria said she wants the woman charged with murder and has serious doubts about her claim of self-defense. She also wants the perpetrator held accountable for the attack, which left her with bruises all over her arm and left eye.

“People could just come onto your property and claim they were acting in self-defense. That’s scary,” Renteria said. “I want the people who attacked us to be charged. I want some kind of justice.”

Phoenix police continue to review surveillance and cell phone videos and interview witnesses. 12News has submitted a request to release the videos and the recorded interview with the woman claiming self-defense. They have not provided us with any videos.