Benjaman Visser Jr. Charged With Killing Wife Mary Visser & Coworker Shaquille Simmons Outside Tempe Little Caesars

An Arizona man is facing two counts of first-degree murder after police say he executed his wife and her coworker in the parking lot of a Little Caesars restaurant in Tempe on Monday morning.

Shooter Arrested at the Scene With Gun in Hand

The violence unfolded around 9 a.m. near Rural and Guadalupe roads, just before the pizza shop opened. Tempe police — already nearby for an unrelated call — heard gunfire and rushed to the strip mall.

Officers arrived to find 27-year-old Benjaman (Benjamin) Visser Jr. still holding a gun. He was taken into custody without further incident and booked on charges of premeditated murder.

Victims Identified: 21-Year-Old Wife & 32-Year-Old Coworker

Both victims were Little Caesars employees:

• Mary Visser, 21 — Benjaman’s wife

• Shaquille Simmons, 32 — her coworker

Surveillance video shows Simmons parking and walking toward the restaurant when Visser ambushed him. Visser then turned the gun on Mary. Both victims were rushed to the hospital but died of their wounds. 

Shaquille Simmons

Mary managed to call 911 during the attack, telling dispatchers her husband shot her and Simmons before Visser took the phone.

Jealousy, Surveillance of Wife, and Violent History Suggested

Witnesses told investigators that Visser had been loitering outside the shop for weeks, watching Mary work. One witness saw him violently slam a door after seeing Mary speak to Simmons.
Simmons’ family said he had no romantic involvement with Mary and was simply at work.

A nearby business owner described hearing “bang, bang, bang, bang, bang” before seeing workers collapse on the ground.

Shooter Claims He “Blacked Out”

During questioning, Visser said he argued with Mary that morning and walked her to work before claiming he “blacked out” and remembered nothing until holding the gun. He told police he had a mental-health condition but could not identify it.

Community Shocked; GoFundMe Launched

Local employees said the area is quiet and safe, calling the killings an isolated, devastating act.
A GoFundMe has been created to support Simmons’ family.

Tempe Police released a statement expressing condolences to both victims’ families and praising the quick response of officers who stopped the gunman.

 

Killings Not Related to Separate Shooting at Tempe Marketplace

Police clarified that this incident is not connected to another fatal shooting in Tempe earlier that same morning.

The investigation into what triggered the attack remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tempe Police at 480-350-8311.