J.T. Ready among 5 killed in Gilbert, Arizona shooting

GILBERT, AZ - Police have released the identities of the five people shot and killed Wednesday afternoon in Gilbert, including a prominent former neo-Nazi.

In an email around 5:15 a.m. to ABC15, Gilbert police Sgt. Bill Balafas confirmed 39-year-old J.T. Ready, who was running for Pinal County Sheriff, was involved in the shooting, but it's unclear if he was the gunman or a victim.

The four others killed were identified as 47-year-old Lisa Lynn Mederos, 23-year-old Amber Nieve Mederos, 24-year-old Jim Franklin Hiott, and 16-month-old Lily Lynn Mederos.

The shooting happened around 1 p.m. near Cooper and Warner roads.

Ready was known to be a member of the National Socialist Movement who advocated using violence to stop people from crossing the border. In a 2010 interview with ABC15 he discussed his beliefs and showed off his cache of high-powered weapons.

At a 6:30 p.m. news conference, Balafas said bomb squad officers had found two drums of unidentified liquid in the backyard of the home. He said a fire department hazardous materials team would be checking the drums to identify the contents before officers go into the home and begin their investigation.

Police say a man fatally shot four people before being found dead in what is believed to be a domestic situation. Police have not yet confirmed if the shooter committed suicide.

"We have no reason to believe that there's anybody at large as a suspect, that we believe the person that committed these shootings is also dead inside the home," Balafas said.

Police say officers recovered two handguns and a shotgun at the scene.

The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force has responded to the scene to assist Gilbert police in their investigation. Ready's connection to the home where the shooting happened isn't entirely clear at this time.

A motive in the shooting is unknown.

Balafas said investigators are talking to a person who witnessed part of the incident. He could not say whether that person was in the house or a neighbor.