An Arizona Man Kills Two People, Claims It Was A Love Triangle Gone Bad

When police were summoned to the scene of a shooting in Mesa, Arizona on May 31, 2016, they found a woman who had been shot to death and a man clinging to life.

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (Screenshot from ID's "Evil Lives Here: Shadows of Death")

Nicole Sanchez thought it was unusual when her friend, Nasbah Wright, hadn’t been in touch in a few days, and her worry only continued to grow when Nasbah didn’t answer her phone calls.

Nicole knew that Nasbah had problems at home. The women had only been friends for a short amount of time, and while Nasbah was generally guarded about her home life, Nicole had gleaned some details.

Nasbah’s husband, Chris Wright, was struggling with addiction and prone to volatility. He had been in and out of rehab, and Nasbah was planning to file for divorce after Chris broke her arm by slamming it in a door earlier in 2016.

Still, Nicole didn’t know where Nasbah lived or how to get ahold of anybody to check on her. It took Nasbah’s ex-husband calling to let her know that her friend was dead.

What Happened To Nasbah?

Nasbah called 911 early in the morning on May 31, 2016. She said she was in the car with her husband and that he had a rifle and was going to shoot her. The dispatcher tried to get more details but only heard Nasbah screaming “no” before several gunshots rang out.

At the scene, police saw two vehicles. There was a white SUV on a curb near a roundabout and a white truck nearby. A woman’s body laid on the ground next to the truck. It was apparent she had been shot dead. The driver of the truck, Tomas Olivas, was gravely wounded but still alive behind the wheel.

One man, later identified as Nasbah’s husband, Chris, was the only one standing. Police ordered him to drop his weapon and arrested him. Olivas was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

What Happened To Tomas?

Karina Olivas, Tomas’s daughter, realized something was wrong when her brother called her around 1 p.m. on May 31, 2016. Her father never arrived at his construction job that day, her brother said. Neither he nor Karina could reach their father, so Karina drove to his house.

His white work truck was missing, and there was no sign of him at the house. With a sense of dread, she flipped the TV on to check the news. As a reporter gave details of a shooting on the highway, Karina saw her father’s truck in the background of the footage.

Karina called police trying to get information, but was told that someone would have to call her back. She searched for her father at local hospitals, but there seemed to be no record of him there either.

She and her mother waited for hours until they saw a police car pull into the driveway. Nobody had to tell them; they knew in their hearts that Tomas was already gone.

Find out what happened on the road that day on a new episode of Evil Lives Here: Shadows of Death on Sept. 18 at 9/8c on ID. More episodes are available to stream on discovery+.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence or abuse from a romantic partner, you can visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website, call 1.800.799.SAFE, or text START to 88788 for help. Advocates are available 24/7 to help callers talk through their situation and connect them with local resources. There is no charge to reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

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