State v. Cooper

── State v. Cooper ── Court: Court of Appeals of Arizona Date: May 01, 2026 Category: General NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION. UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE. IN THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION ONE STATE OF ARIZONA, Appellee, v. JAVON COLEON COOPER, Appellant. Nos. 1 CA-CR 24-0350 and 1 CA-CR 24-0351 (Consolidated) FILED 05-01-2026 Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County Nos. CR2019-001403-001, CR2021-001972-001 The Honorable Justin Beresky, Judge AFFIRMED COUNSEL Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix By Deborah Celeste Kinney Counsel for Appellee Law Office of Randal B. McDonald, Phoenix By Randal Boyd McDonald Counsel for Appellant  STATE v. COOPER Decision of the Court MEMORANDUM DECISION Judge Kent E. Cattani delivered the decision of the Court, in which Presiding Judge Samuel A. Thumma and Judge Andrew J. Becke joined. C A T T A N I, Judge: ¶1 Javon Cooper appeals his convictions of first-degree premeditated murder and misconduct involving weapons (prohibited possessor) and the resulting sentences. We affirm. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND ¶2 One evening in June 2018, the victim purchased beer from a convenience store in north Phoenix and then walked south down the road. Cooper drove north past the victim on his way to meet an acquaintance at a restaurant across the road. Cooper parked and told his acquaintance to wait for him, then walked across the road, leaving his car running. Cooper came up behind the victim and shot him once. The victim fell onto the road and, after a few seconds, Cooper shot him again. ¶3 Cooper ran back to his car and drove away. The victim hobbled across the street as several passersby called 911 and stopped to render aid. The victim told them that “Coop” had shot him, described Cooper’s car, and gave an approximate location where he might be found. Video and limited audio of the incident and aftermath were recorded on a city bus’s surveillance system. ¶4 The victim died at the hospital later that evening. An autopsy showed two gunshot wounds, one entering the victim’s left buttock and the other his left thigh. Each bullet’s pathway was directed back to front, left to right, and slightly downward through the victim’s body, with the State arguing at trial that the victim was shot from behind unaware. Either wound could have caused enough blood loss to be fatal. ¶5 The State charged Cooper with first-degree premeditated murder and, in a separate case, misconduct involving weapons (prohibited possessor). At Cooper’s request, the two charges were consolidated for trial. 2  STATE v. COOPER Decision of the Court ¶6 Cooper testified at trial, acknowledging that he shot the victim but claiming self-defense. He also admitted that he was not legally permitted to carry a gun because of a prior felony conviction. Cooper testified that he knew the victim for about a year before the shooting but cut ties after witnessing the victim commit several violent acts and being threatened by the victim. ¶7 Cooper testified that, when he saw the victim on the day of the shooting, he thought it could be an opportunity to clear the air. He exchanged nods with the victim while driving past, then called the victim’s name to get his attention while walking toward him on the sidewalk. Although the victim did not turn around, he w