GLENDALE, Ariz. — A Maricopa County grand jury has returned multiple charges against a 20-year-old man accused of a high-speed driving rampage through downtown Glendale that ended with a fatal collision and injuries to three people earlier this year.
"A man is facing murder charges after a high-speed rampage through Glendale left one person dead and three others, including a police officer, hurt earlier this year."
Charges and alleged conduct
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced that prosecutors have indicted Ali Alebadi, 20, on one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of unlawful flight from law enforcement. Alebadi is being held on a $3 million cash bond, according to charging documents.
What investigators say happened
Court documents and investigators say the incident began the morning of March 22, when Alebadi drove a white sedan through downtown Glendale, at times reaching speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. Traffic cameras captured the vehicle allegedly running at least eight red lights, cutting off other drivers, making wide turns and entering oncoming lanes.
A Glendale police officer was driving near 57th and Glendale avenues when the sedan passed the officer going the wrong direction and the officer attempted a traffic stop. During the ensuing pursuit, the officer's vehicle was involved in a crash with a pickup truck. The pursuit continued and the sedan later struck a Nissan Sentra at the intersection of 51st Avenue and Glendale Avenue.
The passenger in the Sentra was killed. The Sentra's driver was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. The pursuing officer and the pickup truck driver also were hospitalized after the collisions.
- Date of incident: March 22
- Reported top speed: 90 mph
- Location: Downtown Glendale (near 57th & Glendale avenues and 51st & Glendale avenues)
Toxicology, flight and arrest
According to the charging papers, Alebadi’s blood alcohol concentration was measured at 0.141 — well above Arizona’s legal limit of 0.08. After receiving medical treatment and being released from the hospital, authorities say Alebadi fled the country. The documents note that he has ties to Mexico and Iraq, though investigators did not specify where he went.
He was later located and arrested in Glendale on Aug. 19, the county attorney's office said. His trial is scheduled for April 2027.
Local impact and next steps
The crash closed a busy Glendale intersection the morning it occurred and prompted an investigation by local and county law enforcement. Prosecutors are treating the case as a violent felony matter given the death and the serious injuries sustained by multiple victims, including a police officer.
Residents with video or information about the incident were asked at the time to share it with investigators. The case will proceed through the Maricopa County court system, where pretrial motions and scheduling will determine whether the matter goes to jury trial in April 2027.
| Charge | Count |
|---|---|
| First-degree murder | 1 |
| Second-degree murder | 1 |
| Aggravated assault | 2 |
| Unlawful flight from law enforcement | 1 |
As the case moves forward, prosecutors will present evidence gathered from traffic cameras, crash investigators and toxicology reports. The county attorney's office has indicated the facts supporting the indictment but has not released additional public comments beyond the charging announcement.
Community members concerned about safety in the downtown corridor or seeking updates on court proceedings may contact the Maricopa County Attorney's Office or the Glendale Police Department for further information.
