Feb. 21 (UPI) — A 26-year-old man accused of bludgeoning a woman to death in a Manhattan hotel room earlier this month has been arrested in Arizona where he is accused of attacking two more women, according to authorities who raised worries that he may have additional victims.
Raad Almansoori is believed to be behind the murder of Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, whose body was found Feb. 8 by staff in her room at the SoHo 54 Hotel in Manhattan.
Police had been hunting for him until he was arrested Sunday while driving a stolen car more than 2,400 miles away in Arizona where he is accused of stabbing a McDonald’s employee in the restaurant’s bathroom and carjacking another woman at knifepoint.
Authorities in New York City on Tuesday called on the public nationwide to contact law enforcement if they have seen Almansoori in their communities so officers can inspect potential connections to additional attacks.
“Anywhere that he’s visited there’s potential that there are other victims around the country,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Tarik Sheppard told reporters Tuesday during a press conference, “and we want to do our due diligence and make sure that we let communities around the country know that they should be aware of who this person is.”
New York Police Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told reporters Tuesday that he is accused of killing Oleas-Arancibia, whom he identified as an escort, sometime between 2:14 p.m. on Feb. 7 and 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 8 when employees of the hotel found her dead on the floor of her room.
He said the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, stating a broken iron was found in the room and that pieces of plastic were removed from her skull.
Their investigation uncovered that Almansoori seemed to have been in a dispute with Oleas-Arancibia over the time he was allowed to stay in her hotel room before she was murdered, Kenny said.
Days later, he is believed to have flown from New York to Arizona where on Saturday he is accused of attempting to carjack a woman and was able to escape the scene. The woman was transported to a local hospital where she is recovering, authorities said.
The next day, the police department in Surprise, Ariz., which is northwest of Phoneix, were called to a McDonald’s near West Greenway and North Reems Roads at about 8:30 a.m. to find a woman suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Kenny said the woman was an employee at the fast food restaurant and that she was dragged into the women’s restroom where she was stabbed multiple times.
Officers began searching for Almansoori, who was later apprehended in Scottsdale driving a stolen car, the Surprise Police Department said in a statement.
Kenny told reporters that Almansoori told police in Arizona that he was wanted for murder in New York City.
“Google SoHo 54 Hotel,” Kenny said Almansoori had told police.
He also told police in Arizona that “he hurt three additional girls in Florida,” Kenny said.
Though he has never been arrested in New York, Almansoori has an “extensive” out-of-state criminal record, Kenny said, stating that his recent spree of crimes occurred as he was out on bail since September following an arrest on charges of kidnapping and sexual assault of an escort in Flordia.
According to jail records, Almansoori is being held in Maricopa County on a slew of charges from theft and robbery to homicide.
The police department in Surprise is expected to have a press conference about the case at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is launching today, March 24, from Southern California. Will it be visible from Arizona?
The two-stage rocket will be blasting off from the Vandenberg Space Force Base to help deploy to Earth orbit another batch of the commercial spaceflight company’s Starlink broadband internet satellites.
While a planned southern trajectory may make the rocket a little harder to spot for Arizonans, SpaceX will offer a livestream of the mission on its website.
Keep in mind that postponements due to weather or issues with rockets are common with spaceflight. If you’re going to try to spot the rocket launch, check back with azcentral.com for any updates on the mission.
In the meantime, here’s what to know about the launch from neighboring California, as well as when and where to potentially see the rocket in Arizona.
SpaceX is working toward a Tuesday, March 24, launch from Southern California, with a four-hour launch window opening at 4:03 p.m. PT, according to a launch alert.
A Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory suggests a backup opportunity is available the next day if the launch were to be postponed.
The launch will take place from Space Launch Complex 4-East (SLC-4E) at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County.
Because the rocket is due to fly at a southern trajectory, it may not be easily visible from Arizona.
Fortunately for those in Arizona interested in watching the launch, SpaceX also provides a live webcast of its missions.
The launch will be available to stream on the company’s website and its new X TV mobile app, beginning about five minutes before liftoff. SpaceX may also provide updates on social media site X.
SpaceX will launch its famous two-stage 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket, one of the world’s most active, to deliver 25 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, an altitude nearer Earth’s atmosphere where they’re able to circle the planet quickly.
Because of Arizona’s proximity to the launch site, there’s a good chance people there can see the spacecraft streak across the sky, especially at night or very early morning.
Here’s a list of some possible viewing locations compiled by The Arizona Republic, a USA TODAY Network publication.
SpaceX is the commercial spaceflight company that billionaire Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, founded in 2002 and leads as the CEO.
SpaceX is headquartered at Starbase in South Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The site, which is where SpaceX has been conducting routine flight tests of its 400-foot megarocket known as Starship, was recently voted by residents to become its own city.
As a major government contractor, SpaceX serves as the launch service provider for a variety of government missions both civil and military.
For the Department of Defense, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 helps launch classified satellites and other payloads into space. And for NASA, Falcon 9 most often helps propel astronauts to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s Dragon crew capsule – the only U.S vehicle capable of carrying NASA astronauts to orbit.
Starlink is SpaceX’s internet satellite business.
With nearly 10,000 satellites in its growing orbital constellation, Starlink has become a lucrative part of Musk’s business empire, serving millions of customers around the world.
SpaceX, which bills itself as the only satellite internet provider with its own reusable rocket capable of deploying the technology, has spent years delivering the satellites to orbit with a regular cadence of rocket launches from Florida and California.
Starlink satellites operate from low-Earth orbit, about 341 miles up, which is much closer to Earth’s atmosphere than other satellites. That not only allows Starlink satellites to offer high connection speeds than satellites further out in space, but to reach rural areas and regions where internet service is not readily accessible.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com
Here are The Arizona Republic’s picks for the top 10 high school girls track and field athletes from the fourth week of the 2026 (March 16-21). Vote in our poll for the athlete you think had the best week. The poll closes on Friday, March 27, at 6 p.m. Print readers can find the poll online at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools.
1. Ava Davis, Goodyear Millennium, sprints, So.
She won both the 100 (11.80 seconds) and 200 meters (24.02) at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, setting the state lead in both events.
2. Aulani Gleason, Gilbert Mesquite, sprints, Fr.
The burgeoning superstar is beginning to make a name for herself, running 54.70 to win the 400 at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21 to move up to No. 2 in the state. Gleason is now No. 10 all-time in Arizona and becomes only the second freshman in state history to go under 55 seconds, per the MileSplit database. She also came in second in the 200, running 24.23 to move up to No. 2 in the state this season.
3. Brooke Zuluaga, Chandler Seton Catholic, throws, Sr.
She won the javelin at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, throwing 145-10 to set the state lead and move up to No. 3 in the nation.
4. Nicole Ripperdan, Queen Creek, mid-distance, Sr.
She won the 800 at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 2:10.64 to set the state lead. Historically, Ripperdan is tied for No. 10 all-time in Arizona.
5. Taylor Drewry, Chandler Basha, distance, Sr.
She won the 1,600 (4:56.25) and came in second in the 3,200 (10:31.81) at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, setting the state lead in each event She is the first in-state athlete this season to go under 5:00 in the 1,600.
6. Rebekah-Jhade Garrett, Phoenix North Canyon, hurdles, Sr.
She won the 100-hurdles at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 13.52 to retain her top state ranking.
7. Imani Galera-Young, Chandler, hurdles, Sr.
She won the 300-hurdles at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 42.67 to set the state lead and move up to No. 9 in the nation.
8. Kyra Hogarth, Chandler, jumps, Jr.
She won the pole vault at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, clearing 12 feet, 1 inch to set the state lead.
9. Milanni Pedraza, Tucson Catalina Foothills, distance, Jr.
She came in third in the 1,600 at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 4:57.65 to move up to No. 2 in the state.
10. Kylee Blair, Queen Creek, sprints, Sr.
She came in second in the 100 (11.90) and fifth in the 200 (24.40) at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, moving up to No. 3 in the state for both the 100 and 200.
11. Audra Huempfner, Gilbert Highland, distance, Sr.
She came in fourth in the 3,200 at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 11:00.86 to move up to No. 2 in the state.
12. Tatum Lee, Phoenix Desert Vista, throws, Sr.
She won both the shot put (38-3) and discus (134-3) at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, moving up to No. 3 in the state for the shot put.
13. Jaiden Ware, Chandler, jumps, Sr.
She won the long jump at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, hitting 18-6 to move to No. 5 in the state.
14. Christina Keller, Scottsdale Christian Academy, jumps, Sr.
She won the high jump at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, clearing 5-6.
15. Nora Fincher, Tempe McClintock, throws, So.
She came in fourth in the javelin at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, throwing 131-3 to move up No. 4 in the state and No. 2 in the nation for sophomores.
16. Lizzy Gannon, Phoenix Desert Vista, jumps, Sr.
She came in third in the triple jump at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, hitting 37-1 (+3.5 wind) to move up to No. 2 in the state for all-conditions.
17. Victoria Williams, Vail Cienega, throws, Sr.
She won the discus at the Thomas Meixner Lancer Invitational on March 20, throwing 130-11 to move up to No. 3 in the state.
18. Ella Bonnette, Gilbert Highland, distance, So.
She came in fourth in the 1,600 at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 5:04.58 to move up to No. 3 in the state.
19. Kennedy Frakes, Phoenix Xavier Prep, distance, Sr.
She came in sixth in the 3,200 at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 5:04.58 to move up to No. 3 in the state.
20. Maclane Clark, Gilbert Perry, hurdles, Sr.
She came in second in the 300-hurdles at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 44.05 to move up to No. 4 in the state.
Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@usatodayco.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.
Arizona men’s tennis has won four consecutive conference championships. A fifth could be in store after the Wildcats took down the Big 12’s top ranked team on Sunday afternoon.
No. 15 Arizona swept No. 2 TCU by a score of 4-0 to move to 16-3 and 4-0 in the Big 12. Clancy Shields’ program has won 11 consecutive matches after starting the year 5-3.
Four conference matches remain, including home tilts versus ranked ASU and UCF. Arizona has a one match lead over UCF in the wins column, while every other team has at least one lost.
Arizona’s win against TCU – played in 100 degree heat at LaNelle Robson Tennis Center – was one of the program’s biggest results since joining the Big 12. TCU was the NCAA Tournament runner-up last season and perennially advances deep into the postseason.
“I have so much respect for (TCU),” Shields said. “They’ve been top five for 10 years. They’re a model of consistency. And they didn’t go away. We could have ended this in two hours, and they pushed and clawed their way back into this and we found a way to finish it.”
Arizona earned the crucial doubles point to jump out to an early lead. Alejandro Arcila and Cole Stelse won their doubles match 6-3, and Filip Gustafsson and Glib Sekachov won theirs in a 7-6 (7-2) tiebreak.
Sekachov secured Arizona’s first singles point with a 6-3, 6-2 win on court No. 5. The Wildcats won the first set in five of six singles matches.
Arizona took control when Gustafsson held off a fierce comeback attempt from TCU’s Oliver Bonding to win his match 6-1, 7-6 (6-3) on court No. 2.
“I was really impressed with Filip being up a set and 4-1 and nearly letting the guy back in it and then finding a way to finish the tiebreak,” Shields said. “Same thing in doubles. Finding a way to get that win on No. 1 doubles to clinch that match. That’s really hard.”
Leading 3-0, Arizona thought it might get a clinching point from Jay Friend, who led Duncan Chan 6-3, 5-7, 5-3. The match pitted the nation’s No. 3 ranked singles player (Friend) vs. No. 7 Chan.
Before Friend could seal the deal, Zoran Ludoski won his match 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 on court No. 4.
“For Zoran to get the win, it’s cool, and there’s a lot of people getting wins on our team.” Shields said. “To find wins on the court and they don’t just come from Jay Friend is really cool.”
The victory marked Arizona’s third win over a Top 30 team in the past week, as the UA defeated No. 28 Columbia on Tuesday and No. 8 Baylor on Thursday. Arizona’s string of success puts the program in firm footing to host an NCAA Tournament pod for a third consecutive season.
Early on this season, Arizona’s trajectory wasn’t so bloomy. Arizona dropped non-conference matches to Oklahoma, LSU and San Diego.
The Wildcats had a monumental task in replacing All-American Colton Smith and the ultra-reliable Casper Christensen, both of whom were seniors last season. Arizona brought in Arcila, a blue chip recruit out of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, and relied heavily on sophomores Sekachov, Ludoski and Gustafsson.
“It’s a really young team, it’s really exciting,” Shields said. “I’m just really proud of this team because they bought into the culture of what this place is and we kept working and kept getting better.”
Now that Arizona has hit its stride, Shields isn’t putting any limit on what this group can accomplish. Arizona is looking to break through in the postseason after falling in the Sweet 16 the last two years.
Competing in the gauntlet that is the Big 12 prepares Arizona for what’s in store in the postseason, Shields said.
“It’s a really gritty conference,” Shields said. “We have a lot of really tough conditions. The Pac-12 was a lot of talent but a little bit soft. The Big 12 is talent and grit and we fit in just right with that.”
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