Phoenix Freeway Shootings: Suspect Tells Court It Wasn’t Him

Leslie Allen Merritt Jr., waits to make his initial appearance before a judge at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, September 19, 2015, in Phoenix. Firearms examiners would have test-fired the suspect’s gun and found impressions in the bullet that matched any ballistic evidence recovered from the shooting scenes.

Investigators report that Merrit entered the Walmart where he was arrested, at 6:45 p.m. along with a woman and 5-year-old child.

Graves said Merritt pawned the handgun, which investigators collected from the shop.

They release a statement saying, “Pawn shops in the state of Arizona are required by law to keep detailed records of all transactions, and in this case… our diligence has assisted law enforcement officials in apprehending their suspect…”

Colonel Frank Milstead, center, Director of Department of Public… My gun’s been in the pawn shop for the last two months.

He was charged with four counts each of drive-by shooting, intentional acts of terrorism, discharging a firearm within city limits, aggravated assault, endangerment, criminal damage and disorderly conduct involving a weapon.

“The suspect presents a dramatic and profound threat to the community”, the prosecutor said at Merritt’s arraignment, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Merritt asked the judge if he could speak after she set his bond at $1 million and said he would be required to wear an ankle monitor if he posts it. The judge warned Merritt that anything he said could be used against him during his trial, and he nodded.

“I could never afford that bond, I have two kids, you know”.

“I think the detectives really worked this”, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves said on MSNBC, Saturday.

The employer says Merritt has been working with him for eight months without complaint. Minutes later, Gov. Doug Ducey proclaimed on Twitter, “We got him!”

Arizona Department of Public Safety/REUTERS A bullet hole is shown in a windshield of a auto that was traveling on Interstate 10 in Phoenix, Arizona.

“Today we are seeing the end result of some incredible police work”, he said at a news conference.

A valley pawn shop is credited for playing a major role in the arrest of Merritt Jr. “We’re not going to get in a debate about that”.

The four shootings, which took place on August 29 and 30 involved a tour bus, a SUV and two cars, all of them on Interstate 10.

Les Jr. also shared news links to articles about the I-10 shootings on his Facebook which some have speculated could be perceived as a way to brag about the crimes.

McDonald says a bus that he was driving on August 29 was one of those vehicles hit by bullets.

He said authorities are still offering a $50,000 reward for information on the shootings and freeway message boards will continue to display a hotline number for tips.

Above all, Merritt Sr. remains adamant, his son is a loving, hardworking, dedicated family man who is innocent.

“He has way too much value for human life to even take the slightest or remotest risk of actually injuring someone”, Leslie said. He said the police were desperate to make an arrest and his son became the scapegoat.