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Spring sports roundup PAGE 27
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
Inside This Week
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1 year later, Gilbert teen’s slaying remains unsolved BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
NEWS ........................... 4 Town fields a winning team in fire hydrant contest.
COMMUNITY........... 22 A last look at Higley High’s Class of ‘23.
Sunday, June 4, 2023
N
ineteen-year-old Rachel Hansen was ready to begin the next chapter of her life – she was engaged to be married, had earned a real estate license and recently moved to a new Gilbert apartment. On Rachel’s second day in her new home in the Redstone at San Tan Village, someone entered her apartment after midnight, shot her once while she was in bed and left. Rachel was later pronounced dead at Chandler Regional Medical Center. Today marks the one-year anniversary of Rachel’s death. No suspect has been publicly identified
and “the investigation remains ongoing,” according to police. “She was sleeping on her back,” Kim Hansen said of her daughter. “The bullet went in the lower left abdomen and went out her top right shoulder. “There’s some question if the main door was unlocked or someone had a key. But her bedroom door was shut because she had two pups in there she was fostering.” In her 911 call at 2 a.m., Saturday, June 4, 2022, Rachel told Gilbert Police dispatch that she had been shot by a stranger in her apartment. “They didn’t take anything,”
see RACHEL page 8
Accomplished Gilbert equestrian at age 19, Rachel Hansen was fatally shot in her Gilbert apartment a year ago today, June 4. Her murder remains unsolved. (Special to GSN)
State, federal suits target Town Council BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
BUSINESS................. 23 New Gilbert clinic offers a broad array of therapies. COMMUNITY..............................21 BUSINESS .................................. 23 SPORTS ...................................... 27 GET OUT.....................................30 CLASSIFIEDS ............................ 33
T
own Council members returned to work last week after the Memorial Day break to find they’re being sued by three residents who were cast out of a public meeting nine months ago. Dr. Brandon Ryff, Ryan Handelsman and Joanne Terry filed a federal lawsuit May 26 alleging their freedom of speech was violated when Mayor Brigette Peter-
son in a retaliatory move against her political opponents ordered police to remove them for silently holding signs at the back of council chambers. The entire council and the Town are named as defendants and were served last Wednesday. Ryff also filed a state lawsuit against the council and the town, claiming the mayor and town “acted with actual malice in defaming” him. “Gilbert was served at noon (Wednesday) and we have engaged outside coun-
sel to review and defend the Town in litigation,” spokeswoman Jennifer Harrison said in an email. “Due to the litigation, the Town will not be commenting further.” The two suits were preceded by claims for damages that were deemed denied because Gilbert officials took no action within the 60-day time limit. “The mayor targeting and violating the constitutional rights of residents she dis-
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