Police say Samuel Goodrick, 21, of Phoenix, is accused of a violent carjacking that began in Tempe and continued across state lines before his arrest near the Arizona‑New Mexico border.
Attack in Tempe
According to court documents, Goodrick attacked rideshare driver Chadwick Stevens in a parking lot near a warehouse at the intersection of Priest Drive and Elliot Road early Friday morning, Nov. 6. Stevens, who co‑owns the warehouse, was on a routine check‑in for the business when the assault occurred.
Stevens’ partner used the Life360 app to track his movements and saw Stevens arrive at the warehouse at 3:07 a.m., depart at 3:20 a.m., and the device remain stationary near I‑10 and Elliot Road at 3:24 a.m. Officers later found Stevens before 6 a.m. with severe injuries, including broken facial bones, a collapsed lung, broken ribs and a brain‑stem injury. Hospital staff placed him in a medically induced coma, and officials warned he may not survive.
Stolen vehicle and naked intrusion
Detectives recovered a cellphone, protective case and Goodrick’s passport near the I‑10 and Elliot Road interchange. Stevens’ black 2021 GMC Yukon was missing. Court paperwork indicates Goodrick abandoned the Yukon around 12:30 p.m. on I‑10 near the New Mexico State Highway 338 interchange and then jumped naked into the back of a family’s pickup truck as they towed a travel trailer.
The family called 911 but continued driving because Goodrick threatened them. As they entered Arizona, Goodrick remained in the truck bed, smashed the rear window, and eventually moved into the cab. The family stopped, threw him out, and drove to safety.
Arrest and charges
New Mexico State Police detained Goodrick near San Simon, Arizona, about 14 miles west of the state line, while he was still naked on the freeway. An Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper arrived, and Goodrick spontaneously admitted, “Because I killed a guy.” He was taken to a hospital in Willcox for medical and mental‑health evaluation.
Goodrick was read his Miranda rights, invoked his right to counsel, and later, while waiting for release, reportedly said, “I just killed a dude. I smashed his (expletive) head into the ground. I can’t believe I (expletive) did that.” He was subsequently booked on one count of attempted second‑degree murder, one count of robbery, and one count of theft of means of transportation. His bond was set at $1.5 million cash‑only.
Community impact
The incident has raised concerns among local residents about highway safety and the need for rapid response to violent crimes that cross jurisdictional lines. Law‑enforcement agencies from Arizona and New Mexico coordinated to apprehend the suspect, demonstrating inter‑state cooperation in protecting motorists.
Authorities continue to monitor Stevens’ condition and have urged anyone with additional information about the case to contact local police.
Original reporting: azfamily KTVK/KPHO Phoenix (news) — read the source article.
