A landscaper who is the suspect in a series of Phoenix freeway shootings told a judge Saturday that authorities have "the wrong guy" and he hasn't even been in possession of a gun for two months. Leslie Allen Merritt Jr., 21, was charged with counts including aggravated assault, criminal damage, disorderly conduct, carrying out a drive-by shooting and intentional acts of terrorism. In a brief court appearance, the prosecutor said he presents a danger to the community after drivers spent the last three weeks on edge. "The suspect presents a dramatic and profound threat to the community," the prosecutor said.
Judge Lisa Roberts set bail at $1 million, and Merritt asked to speak to the court. "All I have to say is I'm the wrong guy. I tried telling the detectives that. My gun's been in the pawn shop the last two months. I haven't even had access to a weapon," he said. Merritt was arrested at about 7 p.m. Friday after a SWAT team swarmed him at a Wal-Mart in the suburb of Glendale. Minutes later, Gov. Doug Ducey took to Twitter to proclaim "We got him!" and the head of the Arizona Department of Public Safety held a news conference to outline the four shootings detectives linked to Merritt.
Merritt was behind the shootings of a tour bus, an SUV and two cars on Interstate 10 on Aug. 29 and 30, said DPS director Frank Milstead. No one was injured. Eleven cars in all were hit while driving along Phoenix freeways starting Aug. 29. "Are there others out there? Are there copycats? That is possible," said Milstead. He said the investigation continues.
