Attorney fatally shot; brother arrested while joining family at scene, Phoenix police say
James Arthur Eaves was a well-known defense attorney in the Phoenix area who served as a senior owner and director of the Sanders and Parks law firm.
Phoenix police arrested a man they suspect gunned down his older brother, a well-known area defense attorney.
Christopher Arthur Eaves, 49, has been charged with suspected murder in connection to the death of 51-year-old James Arthur Eaves on March 21, police told the Arizona Republic, part of the Paste BN Network.
Police responded to a reported shooting around 8 a.m. in northeast Phoenix, according to the department. When officers arrived, they discovered James Eaves in the driveway of his home suffering from at least one gunshot wound, police said, adding that he was pronounced dead on the scene.
Christopher Eaves was identified as a suspect in the killing once police investigated various pieces of evidence, the department said. The younger Eaves brother was arrested when he arrived at the crime scene with other relatives, according to police.
While being interrogated, Christopher Eaves declined to answer questions from homicide detectives, police said. He was booked on multiple charges related to his brother's murder, according to the department.
A motive for the deadly shooting has not been determined and additional details are part of an ongoing investigation, police said.
Paste BN contacted Phoenix police on Monday but has not received a response. It was unclear if Christopher Eaves has legal representation. He has a listed bond of $1.5 million, local outlet Fox 10 reported.
Who was James Arthur Eaves?
James Eaves was a senior owner and director of Sanders and Parks Attorneys at Law, according to the firm's website. He defended doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers in malpractice cases for 16 years, the law firm said.
The defense attorney also represented governmental entities in high-profile cases, including the city of Phoenix and Maricopa County, according to Sanders and Parks.
James Eaves earned his Juris Doctor in 1999 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law, according to his bio. He joined Sanders and Parks in November 2003.
He was recognized by Best Lawyers, a peer-review publication company, in 2025, 2024 and 2023. Paste BN contacted Sanders and Parks on Monday but has not received a response.
'A dear friend and colleague'
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office issued a statement to Fox 10 about James Eaves' death saying he was "a dear friend and colleague."
"Artie Eaves was a dear friend and colleague to so many of us at the Maricopa County Attorney's Office," the statement reads. "Today's tragedy has not yet sunk in but one thing is for certain: Artie will be deeply missed. I am praying for his parents, his wife, and his children, and would ask others to do the same."
In a statement to KPNX, Sanders and Parks said, "Artie was a beloved colleague and a tremendously skilled attorney who was an integral part of Sanders & Parks for nearly 22 years. Prior to joining the firm, Artie was a highly regarded prosecutor at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office."
"We will all miss Artie more than words can express," the statement continued. "He was not just our colleague, but a good friend and mentor to all of us. Sanders & Parks extends its deepest condolences to Artie’s entire family."