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Authorities Arrest 1 Tied to I-10 Shootings, Attorney Talks How Case Is Being Handled

Published: Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - 4:15pm
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The Arizona Department of Public Safety said its investigation continues into a series of freeway shooting incidents along Interstate 10 in Phoenix, even after the arrest of a man late last week they say is tied to four of the 11 shootings.

Last Friday, 21-year-old Leslie Allen Merritt Jr. of Glendale was arrested at a Wal-Mart and accused of being the man who pulled the trigger in the first four incidents, dating back to August 29.

So confident in the police work, Governor Doug Ducey tweeted “We got him!”

Merritt, who works as a landscaper, made his first appearance in court on Saturday and in a brief statement, he told the judge that authorities had the wrong guy. His father, Leslie Merritt Sr., even made an emotional appeal to the media to proclaim his son’s innocence.

Authorities have linked shell casings and bullet fragments to his gun, yet he claims the weapon was in the pawn shop at the time of the shootings.

Merritt has been charged with aggravated assault, criminal damage and intentional acts of terrorism. But he’s only been connected to four of the 11 incidents DPS has linked together, and freeway signs asking for tips and the $50,000 reward remain in place. 

Michael Piccarreta, former president of the Arizona Bar, adjunct professor at the University of Arizona and a longtime criminal defense attorney, spoke about how the case has been handled so far.

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