2015 Phoenix freeway shootings

Shootings in Arizona, U.S. July 2016 2015 Phoenix freeway shootings Interstate 10, Loop 202 & SR 51.jpg 250px Looking over a highway towards an elevated interchange The Mini Stack, near where numerous shootings occurred Phoenix_Area_Freeways_map.svg 250 Freeways surrounding Phoenix, showing the major arterial roads and expressways A map of freeways in Phoenix, including other roads investigated in connection with the shootings Interstate 10, State Route 202, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. Vehicles along local freeways 33 27 43.41 N 112 2 55.12 W inline, title 2015 8 27 – 2015 09 10 Handgun Shooting 0 1 Unknown Unknown The 2015 Phoenix freeway shootings, also known as the I-10 shootings, were a series of eleven incidents that occurred between August 27 and September 10, 2015, along Interstate 10 and State Route 202 in Phoenix, Arizona. Each incident resulted in projectile damage to cars, and one girl was injured. A suspect was arrested on September 18,Ducey: Freeway shooting suspect in custody http://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/ducey-freeway-shooting-suspect-in-custody September 18, 2015 ABC15 September 18, 2015 but charges against him were dropped in April 2016.http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/042516_1-10_shootings/judge-dismisses-charges-against-suspect-phx-i-10-shootings/ Judge dismisses charges against suspect in Phx I-10 shootings TucsonSentinel.com TucsonSentinel.com en 2016-12-22 No further arrests have been made since. Events Beginning on August 27, eleven shootings occurred: eight by bullets and three by unspecified projectiles.Sayers Justin Phoenix freeway shootings: What you need to know http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/breaking/2015/09/10/phoenix-freeway-shootings-what-you-need-know/72029778/ September 14, 2015 Arizona Republic September 13, 2015 Ten of the incidents occurred on Interstate 10, while the eleventh was on State Route 202.http://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/list-when-and-where-the-freeway-shootings-occurred LIST: When and where the freeway shootings have occurred ABC15 September 9, 2015 September 10, 2015 The final shooting occurred on September 10.http://www.cbsnews.com/news/leslie-allen-merritt-jr-suspect-phoenix-arizona-freeway-shootings-family/ New details about suspect in Phoenix freeway shootings CBS News September 19, 2015 September 19, 2015 False leads On September 11, a man and woman driving a car were taken into custody in relation to the shootings. The woman was later released, but the 19-year-old male suspect was kept in police custody, as sources stated that he boasted about the shootings to friends. He was later arrested on an unrelated marijuana charge.La Jeunesse William Sources: Man taken into custody in Phoenix allegedly boasted to friends of rash of freeway shootings https://www.foxnews.com/us/sources-man-taken-into-custody-in-phoenix-allegedly-boasted-to-friends-of-rash-of-freeway-shootings/ September 12, 2015 Fox News September 11, 2015 Road debris shattering windows also played a role in the investigation, as shattered windows were often investigated as being part of the spree. For example, on September 16 a driver reported his windows being shot by a car that he was seeking to pass, but police later stated that road debris caused the window damage.DPS investigating shattered window on I-10 http://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/west-phoenix/dps-investigating-shattered-window-on-i-10 September 16, 2015 KNXV September 16, 2015 Three 18-year-olds with a slingshot were arrested on September 13 on claims that they had been making copycat attacks,Billeaud Jacques 3 Arrested in Copycat Incidents of Phoenix Freeway Shootings https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/police-man-detained-freeway-shootings-top-suspect-33720369 September 13, 2015 ABC News September 13, 2015 and the three admitted to targeting cars and pedestrians. They were later released.http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/breaking/2015/12/01/car-chase-ends-flames-near-phoenix-mesa-gateway-airport/76608336/ MCSO: Chase suspect was accused in 'copycat' freeway case azcentral 2016-12-22 Mistaken suspect Leslie Allen Merritt, Jr., then aged 21,Governor: Suspect arrested in Phoenix freeway shootings http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3910893.shtml#.VfzQ4orF-nA kob.com KOB 4 September 18, 2015 September 19, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150919231053/http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S3910893.shtml#.VfzQ4orF-nA dead was arrested in Glendale on September 18, 2015.Davenport Paul Police Arrest Suspect in String of Phoenix Freeway Shootings https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/man-released-questioning-phoenix-freeway-shootings-33864489 abcnews.com ABC September 18, 2015 Police initially claimed that Merritt held anti-government and anti-police views.'We got him!' Suspect arrested in I-10 shootings in Phoenix, governor says http://q13fox.com/2015/09/18/we-got-him-suspect-arrested-in-i-10-shootings-in-phoenix-governor-says/ q13fox.com Fox September 18, 2015 September 18, 2015 September 19, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150919164436/http://q13fox.com/2015/09/18/we-got-him-suspect-arrested-in-i-10-shootings-in-phoenix-governor-says/ dead One day after his arrest, police claimed that they had linked the first four shootings to a pistol owned by Merritt.http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/breaking/2015/09/18/doug-ducey-phoenix-freeway-shootings-suspect-custody/72439462/ Phoenix freeway-shootings suspect Leslie Allen Merritt Jr. tied to first 4 incidents AZCentral September 19, 2015 September 19, 2015 The weapon in question was later shown to have been in a pawn shop at the time of the fourth shooting.Merritt v. Arizona, No. CV-17-04540-PHX-DGC (D. Ariz. Apr. 20, 2021) https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/i-10-shooter-suspect-released-from-jail-social-media-says-duh-everyone-knows-hes-not-the-right-guy-8234917 cphoenixnewtimes.com Phoenix New Times December 15, 2021 He was charged with fifteen felony counts, including carrying out a drive-by shooting, aggravated assault, unlawfully discharging a firearm, disorderly conduct, and endangerment; prosecutors also considered filing terrorism charges, but ultimately did not, as terrorism-related laws focused primarily on protecting public utilities and did not encompass freeway shootings.https://news.yahoo.com/suspect-4-11-phoenix-freeway-shootings-indicted-220653611.html Suspect in 4 of 11 Phoenix freeway shootings is indicted Yahoo! News September 25, 2015 September 27, 2015 Walter Berryhttp://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/leslie-allen-merritt-update-charges-filed-against-phoenix-freeway-shooting-suspect Phoenix freeway shootings update: Charges filed against suspect, Leslie Allen Merritt ABC15 September 23, 2015 September 24, 2015 September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924164938/http://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/leslie-allen-merritt-update-charges-filed-against-phoenix-freeway-shooting-suspect dead All charges were dropped in April 2016. Merritt was formally cleared of all charges and records were sealed in an August 2020 proceeding with Maricopa County Superior Court Judge William Wingard presiding, who stated, "Leslie Allen Merritt Jr. has been cleared of any allegation or charge, and such a finding is in the interest of justice."One-time Freeway Shooter suspect formally cleared by court https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/one-time-freeway-shooter-suspect-formally-cleared-by-court/75-04e12b3d-4ed1-4940-99a7-fa00feb19138 12news.com August 17, 2020 KPNX-TV 12 December 15, 2021 Merritt filed a lawsuit against state officials,https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/09/15/former-freeway-shooting-suspect-sues-arizona-county/90408524/ Former freeway shooting suspect sues Arizona, county USA TODAY 2016-12-22 which went to jury trial in the fall of 2020.Man once charged in metro Phoenix 2015 freeway shootings testifies https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2020/11/02/leslie-merritt-jr-once-charged-metro-phoenix-freeway-shootings-testifies/6132744002/ azcentral.com AZ Central/AP December 15, 2021 The jury returned a finding for the defense, which Merritt appealed in April 2021. The appeal was denied by the Arizona District Court.Merritt v. Arizona, No. CV-17-04540-PHX-DGC (D. Ariz. Apr. 20, 2021) https://casetext.com/case/merritt-v-arizona-11 https://web.archive.org/web/20211216003613/https://casetext.com/case/merritt-v-arizona-11 dead December 16, 2021 casetext.com CaseText December 15, 2021 Merritt again appealed and won a judgment of $1 million. https://www.aetv.com/shows/interrogation-raw In July 2024, Merritt filed a defamation lawsuit against former Department of Public Safety Director and Maricopa County sheriff candidate Frank Milstead after Milstead stated, "Leslie Merritt, in my opinion, is still the freeway shooter, and we had the right guy in custody" while discussing his run to secure to the Republican nomination for Maricopa County sheriff on KPNX. Merritt's attorneys claim Milstead made the comments about Merritt while knowing they were false and that they amounted to defamation.Resnik Brahm July 3, 2024 Arizona's former top cop sued for defamation by man who was cleared in Freeway Shooter investigation https://www.12news.com/article/news/politics/arizonas-former-top-cop-sued-for-defamation-by-man-who-was-cleared-freeway-shooter-investigation/75-cd77ff58-e07f-4727-9780-6c753d3f166c August 17, 2025 KPNX Milstead placed second in the Republican primary behind Jerry Sheridan.Maricopa County Sheriff Primary Election Results https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/07/30/us/elections/results-arizona-maricopa-sheriff-primary.html August 17, 2025 The New York Times See also Arizona Crime Dale Hausner and Samuel Dieteman, two gunmen who carried out serial shootings in Arizona 2003 Ohio highway sniper attacks, a similar crime spree that occurred Interstate 270 in Ohio References Category:2010s in Phoenix, Arizona Category:2015 in Arizona Category:Crime in Arizona Category:Attacks in the United States in 2015 Category:August 2015 crimes in the United States Category:September 2015 crimes in the United States Category:Interstate 10 Category:Non-fatal shootings in the United States Category:Unidentified American criminals