Since August 29th, 14 vehicles, including 2 semi trucks and a bus, were shot or hit with projectiles on Interstate 10 in Phoenix, Arizona. On Friday, September 18th, police were finally able to make an arrest, after linking a 21-year-old man to four of the shootings.
Leslie Allen Merritt was arrested and charged with four counts of intentional terrorism, aggravated assault, drive-by shooting, criminal damage, and disorderly conduct.
Governor Doug Ducey made the announcement on his Twitter account.
BREAKING: We got him! DPS SWAT team is in custody of the individual suspected of I-10 shootings. Apprehended moments ago.
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) September 19, 2015
Merrit is being held on $1 million bond. According to NBC News, he told detectives that they had the “wrong guy” and believes the bond was set too high.
Footage of his arraignment, which detail the charges, was obtained by NBC and can be seen below.
Police say Merritt the owner of a the gun that was “forensically linked” to the first four shootings, but believe that some of the other shootings may have been committed by “copycats”.
The only person injured in the shooting spree was a 13-year-old girl hurt by shattered glass.
Merritt’s father believes that his son is innocent and was used as a “scapegoat” by police, who were under immense public pressure to make and arrest in the case.
