A teenage girl tried to break free from an abusive relationship. Hours later, she was dead.
Michael Sanchez, 18, was arrested Friday for the fatal shooting of his 16-year-old pregnant girlfriend, Rylee Montgomery, in Buckeye, Arizona — just west of Phoenix.
What Happened That Night
On Thursday around 8:15 p.m., Rylee was standing outside a home on Elwood Street with two friends — a 22-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl, who was also pregnant.
Police arrived to find all three shot. Rylee was pronounced dead at the scene. The other two victims were rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Sanchez was tracked to a home 15 miles away in Avondale and arrested.
The Threat Nobody Could Ignore
Hours before the shooting, Sanchez sent Rylee a chilling message.
He texted her a photo of himself with a gun pointed at his head, along with the words: “I’m going to get you and then I’m going to take care of myself.”
Rylee’s stepmother, Amy Montgomery, said the family immediately called police to report the threat.
“And that was the last I heard from her,” she said. “And then three hours later, she was gone.”
A Pattern of Abuse
According to a GoFundMe set up by Rylee’s family, the relationship turned violent after she became pregnant in February.
The fundraiser claims Sanchez told her to end the pregnancy. When she refused, threats and abuse followed — including an incident where he allegedly pointed a gun at her face when she tried to break up with him.
He also reportedly controlled her phone, deleting male contacts including family members.
“Our sweet girl fell victim to a controlling boy,” the GoFundMe reads.
Ankle Monitor — and Still Armed
At the time of the shooting, Sanchez was already wearing an ankle monitor from a March incident in which he allegedly fled police during a road rage confrontation and crashed his car.
He now faces charges of first-degree murder, endangerment, and interference with a monitor device. He is being held in Maricopa County Jail without bond.
The Other Victims
The 17-year-old victim — also pregnant — was shot in the back. She survived, but was forced to deliver her baby boy at just 25 weeks.
Rylee’s stepmother believes she was targeted because she had tried to help Rylee leave the relationship.
The 22-year-old woman, she said, was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
‘He Stole Our Girl’
Rylee Montgomery would have turned 17 soon. She was looking forward to getting her driver’s license, starting a job, and her upcoming gender reveal — which would have shown she was expecting a baby girl.
“Michael stole our girl and granddaughter from us,” her family wrote. “He broke our hearts completely.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.
