Arizona Man Charged With Ex-Girlfriend’s Murder

An 18-year-old man in Arizona has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend at her home last week. The case, which involves first-degree murder and attempted murder charges, is currently proceeding through the legal system.

Highlights

Emilio Rivera, 18, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend, Rhiana Kemplin, 17.
Authorities allege the suspect entered the victim’s Phoenix-area home and shot her while she slept.
The suspect also faces charges for allegedly attempting to kill the victim’s mother during the same incident.
Formal charges were filed Friday, following the incident that occurred over a week ago, according to KSAZ-TV.

Incident and Charges

Emilio Rivera, 18, faces charges of first-degree murder after allegedly entering the Phoenix-area home of his ex-girlfriend, 17-year-old Rhiana Kemplin, and shooting her. The incident reportedly occurred while Kemplin was asleep. Formal charges against Rivera were filed on Friday, as reported by KSAZ-TV. The charging documents indicate that the suspect’s entry into the home was unauthorized.

The charges also include an alleged secondary attack on the victim’s mother inside the residence. Information regarding the condition of the mother has not been released. The police investigation is examining the sequence of events that led to both the fatality and the alleged assault on the second individual.

The Avondale Police Department said Emilio Rivera was arrested in connection with the killing of 17-year-old Rhiana Kemplin. https://t.co/CntukchyLy

— 12 News (@12News) November 16, 2025

Legal Proceedings

Rivera is currently facing the judicial process in Arizona on first-degree murder charges. If convicted, he could be subject to penalties including life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Authorities have indicated that the investigation is ongoing, and the case will be fully prosecuted. The focus of the legal system is to ensure the complete process of accountability for all actions related to the incident.

Watch the report: Arrest made after Valley teen was shot, killed while she slept