Phoenix I-10 shootings suspect charged with 16 counts

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced today that it is formally charging Leslie Allen Merritt Jr. with 16 counts of criminal activity in association with a series of shootings on Interstate 10 in Phoenix during the last few weeks.

On Sunday, Merritt’s father, Leslie Merritt Sr., told ABC News that police were looking for a scapegoat.

Court Clerk Aaron Nash says if charges aren’t filed within 48 hours (not counting weekends) – an order to release will be sent to the Court. That puts Merritt’s pawning of his gun after the four shootings he’s charged with committing.

But the suspect says that police have got the wrong guy, and even authorities admit that they can only tie Merritt to four of the 11 total shootings.

“I tried to tell the detectives that”, he said.

“My gun’s been in the pawn shop the last two months”, Meritt said during Saturday’s court appearance. “Absolutely not. I will support my son and defend my son with every ounce of my being”, he said.

Tom Mangan, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which has been assisting in the investigation, said the evidence gathered by DPS leaves “no doubt” the gun used was the one owned and pawned by the younger Mr. Merritt. Police are still investigating at least half a dozen other shootings that occurred in late August and early September. DPS SWAT team is in custody of the individual suspected of I-10 shootings.

Soon after, Ducey took criticism that he was trying to win political points with an arrest that normally would be announced by the Department of Public Safety. But he said he understood Ducey wanting to quickly spread word of the arrest.

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.

“I think that it raises valid concerns and certainly it could be part of a broader claim of adverse publicity that results in a defendant not able receive a fair trial in a given jurisdiction”, Luna said.

Associated Press reporter Brian Skoloff contributed.