Owner of Ray's European Garage in Phoenix shot dead in Glendale
Reydesel "Ray" Parra visited his daughter and two young grandchildren on Sunday at their Glendale home as the family put up their Christmas tree.
Shortly after leaving, Parra was shot dead. Now, police are looking for whoever took the life of the 55-year-old Phoenix businessman.
Just after 10 p.m., officers were dispatched to 59th Avenue near West Montebello Avenue in Glendale in response to a 911 call about the sounds of a gunshot and a male screaming, police said. Officers found Parra near an apartment stairwell with a life-threatening gunshot wound according to police. Parra was taken to a local hospital and later pronounced dead.
"He was such a sweet, gentle person," Parra's daughter, April Parra, 30, told The Arizona Republic on Tuesday.
Glendale police spokesperson Gina Winn said they are not aware of anything being taken from Ray Parra during the shooting. Ray Parra was returning to his girlfriend's house when he was killed, according to Winn.
"We're hoping to get information from the public if they saw anything, if they heard anything, if they know anything," Winn said.
Ray Parra was the owner of Ray’s European Garage, an auto repair shop located at 2827 W. Encanto Blvd. in Phoenix. His daughter said he was a decades-long certified Mercedes master mechanic.
She most remembers the generosity her dad would extend to customers in need. Ray Parra, she said, would do free auto repairs for those facing car emergencies.
"If people were stranded on the side of the road — doesn't matter what time, they could call him, and he would go and change their tire, give them a jump," she said. "Whatever he could do he would do."
Ray Parra was a father of five and grandfather of multiple grandchildren. The family moved to the Phoenix area from a small town in southern New Mexico around 27 years ago, April Parra said.
The last time she saw her father, April Parra put up her Christmas tree. The family made plans for celebrating Thanksgiving, which April Parra said was her father's favorite holiday.
Ray Parra posed for photos in front of the tree with April Parra's son and daughter.
"He was being goofy," April Parra said. "He was happy."
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Glendale Police Department at 623-930-3000, or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO (837-8446).
Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on Twitter @jrgzztx.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix businessman Reydesel “Ray” Parra shot dead in Glendale
