The Phoenix Serial Shooters
From 2005 through the summer of 2006, Phoenix, Arizona, lived under a shadow of fear. Residents weren’t just locking their doors at night—they were wondering if stepping outside, walking the dog, or even standing in their own driveway might make them the next random target.
The city was being stalked by a pair of killers the press would come to call The Phoenix Serial Shooters. What made their crimes so unsettling was the randomness. These weren’t robberies gone wrong or disputes that escalated into violence—these were drive-by shootings aimed at ordinary people simply living their lives.
In our two-part series, we dive into the chilling details of the spree, the citywide panic it caused, and the dramatic hunt for justice that followed.
Part One: Terror in the Night
The first episode traces the wave of violence from the earliest known shootings through the final victim in July 2006. Over the course of months, Phoenix residents began to connect stories that sounded eerily similar—people being shot at for no reason, usually at night, often while outside their homes or on the street.
Victims ranged widely. Some were walking, some were driving, some were sitting outside. Even animals became targets, adding to the sense that the shooters weren’t looking for anything except chaos. By the time the summer was in full swing, the attacks had claimed lives, devastated families, and left an entire city fearful of going about their daily routines.
In Part One, we walk you through the timeline of those attacks, the mounting fear, and the desperate attempt to understand the motive. Why were these people being shot at random? And how could police stop something that seemed to have no pattern other than senseless violence?
Part Two: The Hunt for Justice
The shootings came to a halt early August, 2006—but the fear lingered. Phoenix residents wanted answers, and investigators were under immense pressure to deliver them.
In Part Two, we pick up with the tip that would ultimately break the case open. From that single lead, detectives began piecing together the identities of the men behind the gun. What unfolded next was a story of relentless police work, shocking revelations, and a community desperate for closure.
The episode covers not just the arrests, but the way the case unfolded in court—the testimonies, the evidence, and the emotional toll on survivors and victims’ families. Justice was served, but the scars left behind made it clear that the aftermath of random violence doesn’t end when the trial does.
A City Shaken
The Phoenix Serial Shooters case wasn’t just about crime—it was about fear. People changed the way they lived their lives. Parents kept kids indoors. Joggers stayed off the streets at night. Even something as simple as running to the store after dark felt risky.
The randomness is what gave the case its grip on the city. Unlike crimes tied to gangs, drugs, or disputes, there was nothing to “avoid” here. Anyone could have been the next victim. That lingering unease, and the sense of vulnerability it created, still echoes for many who lived in Phoenix at the time.
Why This Story Still Matters
Nearly twenty years later, the case of the Phoenix Serial Shooters stands as one of the most unsettling examples of spree-style violence in America. It reminds us how fragile the sense of safety can be when violence feels unpredictable.
But it also highlights the resilience of communities and the importance of persistence in investigation. A single tip, followed with determination, was what ultimately stopped the shooters. Without that, the story might have dragged on with even more tragic consequences.
Listen Now
If you only remember the headlines—or if you’ve never heard this case before—our two-part series brings you inside the chaos, the fear, the investigation, and the fight for justice.
👉 Listen now to The Phoenix Serial Shooters, Part One & Part Two on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Audible, Amazon, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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See you in the next episode of Crime Clueless!
Resources:
Transcripts of the recordings of Hausner and Dieteman
User made Google Map of Victims
Hausner & Dieteman / Serial Shooter investigation: State v. Hausner, 280 P.3d 604 (Ariz. 2012). Retrieved from Justia Law website: Justia Law
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“Dale Hausner, one of Valley’s infamous ‘Serial Shooters,’ apparently wants to die ASAP.” (n.d.). Phoenix New Times. Retrieved from Phoenix New Times
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The Arizona Republic / azcentral. (2016, September 1). When the Serial Shooter and Baseline Killer terrorized Phoenix (photo timeline). AzCentral
The Arizona Republic / azcentral. (2016, September 1). Serial Street Shooters case: Dale Hausner and Sam Dieteman (photo timeline). AzCentral
