DPS arrests 3 in connection with series of overnight I-10 shootings
Oct 11, 2015, 2:54 PM | Updated: Oct 13, 2015, 5:20 pm
Three people were taken into custody early Sunday morning following a series of shootings along Interstate 10 early Sunday morning.
DPS said there is no connection to the ongoing investigation of recent I-10 shootings. Investigators believe it was an isolated incident.
According to the Arizona Department of Public safety, gunshots were reported by a citizen shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday on I-10 near the Broadway curve, where they observed the passenger of a black sedan point a handgun out of the window and fire at least one shot.
Witnesses reported the black sedan traveling westbound, and a short time later another witness reported someone from a black sedan shooting out the passenger side window of a vehicle on westbound Interstate 10 near 35th Avenue.
DPS said the witness followed the suspect vehicle and a police helicopter soon arrived in the area and located it near 83rd Avenue and I-10. DPS said the helicopter was able to maintain contact with the suspect vehicle as it traveled into an apartment complex and identified the suspects as they exited the sedan.
DPS said troopers and officers from Phoenix Police soon descended on the area and quickly arrested two suspects. A third suspect was later arrested 45 minutes later.
All three suspects face charges of drive-by shooting, aggravated assault and endangerment.
The alleged driver, Dezhon Joseph Randle faces an additional charge of possession of marijuana while passenger Semaj Devon McFarlin faces an additional count of possession of marijuana for sale.
The other passenger, Airen Everrette Randolph, does not faces additional charges.
Investigators later recovered a round found in a passenger car, whose driver met troopers near 83rd Avenue and McDowell Road.
The investigation is still ongoing.