Suspect arrested in Ariz. freeway shootings
A suspect was arrested Friday in relation to at least four of several shootings that have rocked the Phoenix area along the Interstate 10 freeway over the past few weeks, Arizona officials said.
Arizona Department of Public Safety Director Frank Milstead confirmed the arrest during a press conference late Friday. He said the weapon owned by the suspect was "forensically linked" to four of the 11 shootings that have taken place along the freeway. He declined to say how the evidence was collected, saying investigators are continuing to fill in the pieces.
Specifically, the weapon was linked to shootings on Aug. 29 -- the day the shootings began -- and on Aug. 31
"The weapon and man we believe was responsible for starting this spree is in custody," Milstead said.
The other seven shootings have not been linked to the suspect in custody. Milstead said there may have been copycats.
"Are there others out there? Are there copycats? That is possible," he said.
Milstead also praised the community, saying that Arizonans had been "incredible" in providing officials with leads and tips.
While Milstead did not name the suspect during the press conference, spokesmen for DPS and Gov. Doug Ducey identified the suspect as Leslie Allen Merritt Jr.
Officials have been monitoring the 21-year-old man all day, the Arizona Republic reported. SWAT team members apprehended him in at a Walmart in Glendale, a Phoenix suburb.
Merritt's father, Leslie Merritt Sr. told the Republic, "Whoever said my son is the freeway shooter is a moron. It's got to be some sort of mistake or someone wanted the reward. This is just preposterous."
The 11 shooting incidents took place from Aug. 29 to Sept. 10, most along Interstate 10. In one incident, flying glass injured a 13-year-old girl. Eight vehicles were hit by bullets in the incidents. Three vehicles were hit by unspecified projectiles.
Robert McDonald Jr., the driver of an empty tour bus that was targeted by a shooter on Aug. 29, told the Republic that he hoped this would be the end of the freeway shootings.
"Now, I don't have to worry about having to duck when I see another vehicle behind me and wonder if this individual is still out there," he said. "Hopefully, with this capture, if it is indeed the right person, hopefully, the Valley can now start the healing process to get back to where we were before Aug. 29."
The news of a suspect's arrest first broke Friday evening when Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced it via Twitter.
"We got him!" Ducey said in a tweet sent out shortly before 7 p.m. local time that cited the state Department of Public Safety. "DPS SWAT team is in custody of the individual suspected of I-10 shootings. Apprehended moments ago."
The governor also commended DPS for its work. "Great work by Arizona DPS investigators and SWAT team," he tweeted.