SURPRISE, Ariz. (TCD) — A 7-month-old child was shot when a 51-year-old man reportedly held his ex-girlfriend and her son hostage and set the home on fire before taking his own life.
On Friday, May 17, at 11:30 a.m., Surprise Police Department officers received a call about an infant and his mother being held hostage at a home on 168th Avenue and Jenan Drive. Police learned the suspect, who was later identified as Todd Marchetti, allegedly broke into the woman’s home at about 3 a.m. and held her and her son against their will. The woman managed to escape and sought help from nearby construction workers, who contacted police.
Once officers arrived, they reportedly heard “multiple rounds of gunfire from inside.” A Surprise Police Department officer fired a shot toward the house before officers forced their way inside to rescue the infant. The child, who sustained gunshot wounds, was airlifted to a hospital in serious condition. Police said the child’s wounds are most likely not life-threatening. The boy’s name is Jaxson and the adult female is Marchetti’s ex-girlfriend, only identified as Allie.
According to the statement, officers were unable to make contact with Marchetti, so SWAT teams arrived at the scene to negotiate with him. At around 3 p.m., the home caught fire while Marchetti was still inside. Firefighters, however, “could not tend to the fire due to the possible threat and sounds of gunfire coming from inside the house.”
Once officials could enter the home, they found Marchetti deceased from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Surprise Police Sgt. Rick Hernandez said in a press conference Jaxson has undergone three surgeries, all of which have gone “very, very well.” Hernandez did not specify where Jaxson was shot, but said it was in the lower extremities.
Police shared body cam footage of the officers and a K9 going into the home and saving Jaxson. Officers could be heard saying, “Get the baby, get the baby,” and “Jackpot, we got the baby.”
According to Hernandez, Marchetti broke into the home armed with a machete, and he “intended to cause her harm while her family was away on vacation.” While holding her captive, Marchetti reportedly shot Allie’s dog.
Hernandez said Allie “used several ruses to try to free herself” and seek help. She convinced Marchetti to let her take the dog to the vet and she hoped that she could call someone when she left the house. However, the “opportunity did not present itself.”
Marchetti reportedly provided a fake name and phone number to the vet and told them the dog was a stray and had been hit by a car. Hernandez said the dog had to be euthanized due to its injuries.
Allie “was persistent” in finding a second way out, Hernandez said. She said she wanted to ask a nearby construction crew to help fix the window he broke when he forced his way inside. She reportedly told Marchetti that repairing the window would mean “no one would have to know what you’ve done.”
Hernandez said, “By doing so, she was able to save not only her life but Jaxson’s life.”
Surprise Fire-Medical Department Chief Brenden Espie said at the press conference, “Allie is the biggest hero of the day.”