Suspect Arrested After Deadly Tempe Marketplace Shooting Linked to Online Sale

Tempe, AZ – Tempe police say a 20-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting at Tempe Marketplace that began as an online sale meet-up.

According to investigators, 19-year-old Dominic Baysinger went to the shopping center with his girlfriend to complete an online transaction in the parking lot near the Road Runner Sports store at Tempe Marketplace. At some point during the exchange, shots were fired, and Baysinger was killed. Police say the suspect took off before officers arrived. (FOX 10 Phoenix)

After a brief manhunt, officers arrested 20-year-old Fernando Gallegos and identified him as the suspected gunman. Tempe police have recommended charges including first-degree murder and armed robbery with a deadly weapon. Court paperwork shows Gallegos is being held on a cash-only bond set at $1.2 million. (FOX 10 Phoenix)

Prosecutors told the judge that digital messages leading up to the meet-up suggest Gallegos went to Tempe Marketplace intending to rob Baysinger during the transaction. They say the planned robbery escalated into the fatal shooting, leaving a 19-year-old dead in front of a busy shopping center. (https://www.azfamily.com)

Defense attorney Marc Adair pushed back hard in court, arguing there is a lack of evidence that his client carried out a robbery or planned one. Adair pointed out that Gallegos has no prior criminal record and said the texts described a meet-up where Baysinger would allegedly exchange money and a ring for a handgun, not a setup for a “lick” or coordinated robbery. The defense also challenged an early conspiracy allegation, saying there was nothing in the probable-cause paperwork to show an agreement with anyone else to commit a crime. The judge ultimately declined to find probable cause for a conspiracy charge but allowed the murder and armed-robbery counts to stand. (https://www.azfamily.com)

Baysinger’s girlfriend was present when the deal turned deadly but was not physically injured. According to court comments summarized by local media, she reportedly heard the gunfire but did not see the actual shooting, a detail the defense has seized on while questioning how firmly investigators can tie Gallegos to pulling the trigger. (https://www.azfamily.com)

Police say the online transaction itself did not involve illegal goods, but they have not publicly said what was being bought or sold or how much the item was worth. Detectives have asked the court to seal some of the case documents to protect an ongoing investigation and because there may be additional suspects or witnesses who haven’t been publicly named. (https://www.azfamily.com)

The killing has reignited concerns about the growing number of violent robberies tied to online marketplace deals, where buyers and sellers arrange to meet in person near stores, restaurants, or parking lots they assume are safe. Tempe police are again urging the public to use designated “safe exchange zones” – often at or near police stations – and to avoid bringing large amounts of cash or going alone to private transactions. (FOX 10 Phoenix)

Gallegos is scheduled to return to court for additional hearings as the case moves forward. Tempe police are asking anyone who may have seen the encounter or has information about the online communications leading up to the sale to contact detectives or submit tips through the department’s crime line. (https://www.azfamily.com)