PHOENIX (AP) — In a dramatic conclusion to a seven-month trial, an Arizona jury has sentenced Cleophus Cooksey Jr. to death for a series of brutal murders that occurred over a three-week span in 2017 in metro Phoenix. The jury found Cooksey, 43, guilty of murdering eight individuals, many of whom were random victims while others included his own mother and stepfather.

Throughout the trial, jurors were presented with harrowing evidence linking Cooksey to the killings, including a gun, vehicle keys belonging to another victim, and a necklace that he was wearing at the time of his arrest. Cooksey was found guilty in late September and sentenced to death for six of the murders, but the jury remained undecided on the punishment for the murders of his parents.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell is now weighing whether to pursue a sentencing retrial on the two familial murder convictions or to allow a judge to impose life sentences instead. Meanwhile, the details of the heinous crimes committed by Cooksey left many in the community in disbelief.

The attack began with the murders of Parker Smith, 21, and Andrew Remillard, 27, who were discovered shot to death inside a parked car. Following closely, Salim Richards, a 31-year-old security guard, was shot while walking to his girlfriend’s apartment. Cooksey did not know every victim personally, according to police reports, yet his grotesque acts have raised questions on the motivations behind his spree.

Cooksey's arrest followed violent incidents leading to further investigation, including several pieces of evidence found in his mother’s apartment shortly after her murder. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Cooksey has maintained his innocence, insisting he is not the perpetrator.

As the sentencing phase reached its conclusion, the gravity of the crimes was underscored by statements from authorities highlighting Cooksey's premeditated actions against innocent people. Mitchell commented on the necessity of the death penalty in assuring justice for the victims whose lives were senselessly taken.

The case has drawn parallels to other recent serial shooting incidents in the Phoenix area, raising ongoing concerns about public safety and the complexities of the legal system in handling such chilling cases.