On a scorching afternoon in Phoenix, Arizona, a distressing incident unfolded when police rescued four young children from a dangerously hot car parked outside an adult bookstore. The children, aged 2, 3, 4, and 7, were found locked inside a vehicle with the windows rolled up and the air conditioning off, enduring internal temperatures of approximately 125 degrees Fahrenheit. The outdoor temperature in Phoenix that day, July 24, 2025, reached a high of 106 degrees, typical for the region’s intense summer heat.
The children’s father, 38-year-old Ascencio Largo, was located inside The Adult Shoppe, an adult entertainment store near 24th and Madison streets, where he had reportedly been for nearly an hour. When approached by police, Largo initially attempted to deny ownership of the vehicle, a claim that raised significant concern among authorities. Court documents noted a smell of alcohol on Largo, and police reported that he appeared to be under the influence at the time of the incident.
A concerned citizen’s 911 call alerted Phoenix police to the situation around 3:40 p.m. Officers arrived to find the children in distress, exhibiting signs of heat exposure such as red, flushed skin, sweating, and crying. Their internal body temperatures were alarmingly high, nearing 100 degrees. First responders quickly removed the children from the vehicle, provided them with water, and placed them in an air-conditioned police SUV for immediate relief. Phoenix firefighters also arrived to offer medical treatment, and the children were transported to a nearby hospital. Thankfully, all four children, who are under the age of 10, are expected to fully recover.
Maricopa County Commissioner Jane McLaughlin, during Largo’s court appearance, described the incident as indicative of “a strong level of reckless culpability,” emphasizing that anyone living in Arizona should be aware of the lethal dangers of leaving children in hot cars. “It’s difficult to say that anybody who grew up in Arizona doesn’t know that children and dogs die in closed cars,” McLaughlin stated. The prosecutor highlighted the imminent danger the children faced, noting that such conditions could have led to tragic outcomes, including neurological damage or death due to heatstroke.
Ascencio Largo was arrested and booked into jail, facing eight felony charges: four counts of child abuse and four counts of endangerment. The state requested a $50,000 bond, citing Largo’s prior criminal history, which includes a previous extreme DUI charge. The Department of Child Safety was notified and is conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident.
This case underscores the critical dangers of vehicular heatstroke, particularly for young children whose bodies heat up faster and cool down more slowly than adults. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 600 children died from heat-related illnesses in vehicles in 2022, with Arizona ranking fourth in the nation for such incidents between 1998 and 2019, reporting 36 fatalities. The organization Kids and Car Safety noted that three children died in Arizona in 2024 due to being left in hot cars, making this near-tragedy a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance.
Thanks to the quick actions of a Good Samaritan and the swift response of Phoenix police and firefighters, a potential tragedy was averted, and the four children are safe. However, the incident has sparked renewed calls for increased public awareness and stricter measures to prevent such occurrences, highlighting the non-negotiable responsibility of ensuring children’s safety in vehicles.
