Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from April 2-4
Apr 4, 2021, 6:24 PM
(Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
PHOENIX — Pima County will open COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all adults next week, a man was arrested after dragging a hit-and-run victim nearly 100 feet to her death and a Phoenix police officer shot and killed an armed suspect inside an occupied restaurant.
Here are some of the biggest stories that headlined the Arizona news cycle over the weekend.
Pima County to join rest of Arizona by expanding vaccine eligibility
Pima County announced Friday it will open COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all adults next week, an expansion already implemented in Arizona’s other 14 counties.
Pima County residents age 16 and older already were allowed to get vaccinated at the state-run site at the University of Arizona.
But you had to be at least 55 years old or be among certain prioritized groups to sign up at county-run sites or other Tucson-area vaccine providers. That will change Monday at 8 a.m.
Come Monday, the only eligibility limits across Arizona will be based on the ages approved for use. The minimum for sites using the Pfizer vaccine is 16, and it’s 18 for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson versions.
Woman killed by hit-and-run driver near Mill Avenue in Tempe
Police arrested a man they say dragged a hit-and-run victim nearly 100 feet to her death in Tempe on Friday night, according to authorities.
Raul Meza Portillo, 40, struck a 41-year-old woman riding a bicycle near the intersection of Mill Avenue and Baseline Road at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
Police said that Portillo was driving a Nissan Titan pick-up truck and hauling a trailer at the time of the crash.
He did not stop during the collision and continued driving until the victim was dislodged from underneath the vehicle, according to the release, nearly 100 feet from the spot of the crash.
Police arrested Portillo at his home later in the day.
Phoenix police shoot, kill man pointing gun at officers inside restaurant
A Phoenix police officer shot and killed an armed suspect inside an occupied restaurant on Saturday night, according to authorities.
The incident occurred around 8:15 p.m. near the intersection of 75th Avenue and Indian School Road.
Officers were responding to a call of a man who had a handgun and had allegedly attempted to rob multiple citizens at gunpoint, authorities said.
The suspect ignored initial commands to drop his weapon and fled into a nearby restaurant with people inside, police said.
Authorities said they gave another order to drop the gun, but the man ignored the command and instead pointed it at an officer.
One officer then fired and struck the suspect, who was provided first aid and was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Wrong-way crash leaves 5 people dead on US 60 in Morristown
Five people are dead after a wrong-way driver crashed into another car near Morristown, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
The crash occurred on U.S. 60 near mile marker 123 around 10:25 p.m. on Friday night. Westbound lanes on U.S. 60 did not reopen until 5:53 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Identities of the victims have not been released as police are waiting to notify next of kin for the five people who died.
Buck & Rider restaurant to expand in north Scottsdale
Fresh seafood restaurant Buck & Rider is expanding in the Valley with a new location coming to north Scottsdale.
Well-known for flying in fresh seafood directly from the coasts, Buck & Rider will be making its way to the southeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Mayo Blvd., according to a press release by LGO hospitality.
Currently, the restaurant has a single Arizona location in Arcadia, which was established in 2015.
About a year out from opening, Buck & Rider’s newest location hopes to host a celebratory grand opening.
