Man, 71, accused of fatally shooting teen in Phoenix, lying to police
Feb 16, 2021, 12:15 PM | Updated: 1:19 pm
(Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Photo)
PHOENIX – A man in his 70s is accused of shooting and killing a teenager in west Phoenix and then lying to police about it, authorities said Tuesday.
While responding to a shooting call near 68th Avenue and Garfield Street around 3:15 p.m. Monday, officers found 19-year-old Xavier Henriquez with a gunshot wound, according to a Phoenix Police Department press release.
Henriquez died after being taken to a hospital in extremely critical condition, police said.
Manuel De La Cruz-Rodriguez, 71, told officers he saw two people on bicycles ride up to Henriquez before he heard the gunfire, police said.
However, investigators found evidence connecting De La Cruz-Rodriguez to the crime, police said.
He was arrested and booked into Maricopa County Jail on a charge of second-degree murder, police said.
The investigation is ongoing.