Edward Rose was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for the murder of a police officer
According to court documents Edward Rose and his girlfriend attempted to cash a fake check however the clerk became suspicious and called the police. When Officer George Cortez showed up to investigate he would be shot multiple times
Edward Rose would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
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EDWARD J. ROSE 257667
PO Box 3400
Florence, AZ 85132
United States
Edward Rose Case
A man and a woman were arrested early Saturday in the overnight shooting death of a Phoenix police officer at a check-cashing store.
Edward James Rose, 20, and Norma Lisa Lopez, 19, were found after an allnight search ended at 5:30 a.m. near the 6700 block of West Pioneer Street. Police said both face first – degree murder charges in the shooting death of officer George Cortez.
Cortez, 23, was responding to a 911 call at Southwest Check Cashing near 83rd Avenue and Encanto Boulevard. Police said he was shot by Rose while trying to arrest him and Lopez on suspicion of writing bad checks.
Investigators said Cortez arrived just after 9 p.m. and approached Rose and Lopez to arrest them. But as he slapped one of Rose’s wrists into handcuffs, the man pulled a gun and shot Cortez twice.
The gunman and the woman then fled the scene.
An officer who was called for backup arrived moments later to find Cortez on the ground, police said. Cortez was transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he died a short time later.
Cortez is the first Phoenix police officer killed in the line of duty since November 2005.
Rose and Lopez were booked on suspicion of firstdegree murder and charged with third-degree burglary and forgery.
Cortez had only been a police officer for two years. But Cmdr. Joe Yahner, who worked with Cortez, said he was already known for doing great police work.
“He loved the job,” Yahner said. “He loved being a Phoenix police officer. And he loved going out and taking care of business on the street and serving the community.”
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon offered his condolences to those who knew the slain officer.
“We lost a hero,” he said. “He died for what he loved — protecting our city.”
Flags flew at half-staff at Phoenix police precincts while family, friends and fellow officers mourned Cortez’s death.
Gordon said Cortez’s loss only worsened one of the most tragic days in Phoenix history. On Friday afternoon, a helicopter collision near downtown Phoenix killed four journalists.
“Late Friday evening, a bad day got worse,” Gordon said.
The investigation of Cortez’s death is ongoing. For that reason, police said they would not release information about how the suspects knew each other or if they had previous criminal records. However, Rose did have a criminal case before the Maricopa County Superior Court beginning last year.
Police declined to say where Cortez was hit. But investigators believe Rose was the one who pulled the trigger.
Lopez is also being charged with first-degree murder because of an Arizona law that says a person committing a felony can be held responsible for deaths that occur as a result of that crime.
Police said they will release more information about the suspects and shooting as the investigation continues.
Cortez was married and leaves behind two young children.