Teens Arrested Over ‘Copycat’ Phoenix Assaults
Three teens are detained for firing rocks at vehicle windows in “copycat” attacks which mimic a string of shootings in the Phoenix area.
The three 18-year-olds used slingshots to fire at people and vehicles on the edge of the town, in Maricopa County, according to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
He told a news conference the teens – identified as Albert German, Aaron Nottingham and Christian Cook – admitted shooting over the weekend at six pedestrians on State Route 24.
One of the casualties had their car windscreen shattered.
“The victims were bright enough to get the licence plate of the vehicle that pulled up alongside.”
“We feel that this really is probably a copycat.”
Authorities tracked the vehicle right down to the Chandler area of the town.
The motorist, Nottingham, identified Cook and German and declared involvement, according to police.
They then acknowledged they have been driving round the Mesa and Queen Creek areas of Phoenix on Saturday, at random firing at pedestrians and vehicles.
Frank Milstead, Arizona Department of Public Safety manager Frank Milstead, said: “What the kids were doing last night was absolutely lethal.
It is all quite serious.”
The teenagers are facing charges of conspiracy and criminal damage, Mr Milstead included.
It comes after 11 vehicles have been shot at along Interstate 10 – a major route through the city – in the past two weeks.
Bullets hit eight of the vehicles, police said, including an automobile shot on the 202 on Thursday.
The man will be held in jail on an unrelated probation violation.
Two incidents of automobiles enduring windows that were damaged were reported on Saturday, but they were later found to possess been caused by road debris and also a street sweeper.
