NEWS

Phoenix freeway shootings: DPS confirms 11 reported incidents

Nicole Costantino, and Natalie Tarangioli
The Arizona Republic
Highway signage ask for the public's help in capturing a shooter along I-10 in Phoenix on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015.

There were more reports Thursday of freeway shootings in the Phoenix area - and local and national media closely followed Arizona Department of Public Safety investigators as they responded to the incidents - but by early Thursday afternoon a DPS spokesman was trying to temper some of the reports that arose in the morning.

Arizona state troopers investigated at least three incidents Thursday morning after motorists reported damage to their cars, but DPS detectives added only one of those to the official tally of Phoenix-area freeway shootings, bringing the total to 11 reported incidents. A DPS spokesman said eight of the shootings involved bullets and another three incidents involved “projectiles.”

Emergency dispatchers fielded hundreds of reports and related calls about suspicious activity, but many Phoenix-area motorists sought to downplay the paranoia or at least put the incidents into some context.

The shootings may have heightened drivers' awareness, but many motorists say they don't feel threatened enough to stay off the freeways.

Mike Heenan, for one, said he isn't about to take alternate routes to I-10 because of the shootings.

“If it happens, it happens,” the 37-year-old retail merchandise worker said Thursday.

The Phoenix resident had pulled into a gas station at 43rd Avenue and McDowell to fill up his tank. He shrugged at the notion that he was at risk using the stretch of road where vehicles have been shot.

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The first report Thursday morning came from a driver who spoke with DPS officers after his car window was shattered at 5:55 a.m., possibly by a BB gun, on the freeway near 83rd Avenue, officials said.

A DPS spokesman said later Thursday morning that investigators were able to confirm the motorist's report. There was no injury, DPS spokesman Bart Graves said.

The incident was the 11th case in which motorists reported their vehicles sustaining damage in possible shootings. In three of the incidents, a BB gun was involved, authorities say.

Authorities were checking out two other reported incidents. One came in to DPS about a commercial vehicle that was struck by a projectile midmorning, Graves said. That incident also occurred on eastbound I-10 near 83th Avenue.

A third incident was reported late Thursday morning. A DPS spokesman said investigators were examining a semitruck near I-10 and 67th Avenue around 11:30 a.m. No other information was available.

Gabriel Verdugo, a 23-year-old Avondale resident, said he doesn't travel on I-10 often, but noted that "hearing about all this has made me more aware of what’s around me.”

Verdugo, who works in sales, said he relies on his faith. “I know God is there for me and what happens is in his hands.”

For now, Phoenix resident Rosita Nevarez, 46, is keeping off the interstate. “You may not even be the person who is shot at but what happens if the person driving near you is hit? There could be a big traffic accident.”

Silent Witness has increased its reward to $20,000 for information leading to an arrest or indictment in the cases.

DPS asks anyone with information to contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-948-6377. Tips can also be e-mailed in at silentwitness.org.

Check back with azcentral for updates.

Mobile users, click here to view the map of the incidents.


Includes information from the Associated Press