NORTH PHOENIX, The north Phoenix community is grieving after Sam Ertebati and Sally Ertebati, a married couple of 16 years, were found dead inside their home Sunday evening in what police believe was an apparent murder-suicide.
Phoenix police responded just before 5:15 p.m. to a residence near Interstate 17 and Bell Road following a call reporting unknown trouble. When officers arrived, they found a man and a woman inside the home suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Following an initial investigation, detectives determined that Sally Ertebati, 42, is believed to have fatally shot her husband, Sam Ertebati, before taking her own life. Authorities said there is no ongoing threat to the public and confirmed that the case remains under investigation.
Police also confirmed that the couple’s two children were inside the home at the time of the incident. The children were not injured and reportedly did not witness the shooting. Victim services and additional support resources are being provided to ensure their safety and well-being.
The Ertebatis had been married for sixteen years, and loved ones described them as devoted parents whose lives centered around their family. As news of their deaths spread, friends and relatives shared tributes remembering the couple for their love, commitment, and the life they built together.
“Sam was a caring, hardworking man who loved his children deeply and always put family first,” one family friend shared. “Sally was a devoted mother who adored her kids and worked tirelessly to support them. This loss is beyond words.”
Others remembered the couple as warm, welcoming, and deeply connected to their community. “They were always there for their children, always present, always loving,” another tribute read. “Our hearts ache for the kids and everyone who loved them.”
The tragedy has left many struggling to understand the loss while focusing on supporting the couple’s children during an unimaginably difficult time. Friends and extended family have requested privacy as they grieve and rally around the children.
Phoenix police said no additional details are being released at this time.
If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or thoughts of self-harm, confidential help is available in the United States by calling or texting 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.
The deaths of Sam and Sally Ertebati have left a profound void in the lives of those who knew them, and they are being remembered for the love they shared and the family they cherished.
