Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from June 18-20
Jun 20, 2021, 6:14 PM
The June 17, 2021, arrest of 19-year-old Ashin Tricarico, the suspect in a string of drive-by shootings, was captured on video by a pastor at a Surprise, Arizona, church. (TikTok screenshot/@neilbetrue)
(TikTok screenshot/@neilbetrue)
PHOENIX –Authorities on Friday identified the suspect in a string of drive-by shootings in the West Valley, Phoenix police arrested a man who shot at two officers early Sunday morning and another Valley heat record was broken.
Here are some of the biggest stories that headlined the Arizona news cycle over the weekend.
West Valley shooting suspect identified, faces murder charge
Authorities on Friday identified the suspect in a string of drive-by shootings in the West Valley that killed one and injured 12 a day earlier as 19-year-old Ashin Tricarico.
The Surprise resident’s motive is unknown as detectives continue to work on the case, the Peoria Police Department said.
Tricarico was booked on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault (10 counts), drive-by shooting (8 counts) and endangerment, police said.
More charges could be brought based on the results of the investigation.
He was arrested Thursday in connection with eight shootings in Peoria, Surprise and Glendale over a period of about 90 minutes.
Phoenix sets record for consecutive days of 115-plus degree heat
Phoenix set a new record on Saturday for five consecutive days of 115-plus degree heat, which dates back to 1895.
The temperature hit 115 degrees again on Sunday, padding the record by a day.
Earlier this week, Phoenix broke the daily temperature record on back-to-back days with 117 degrees on Thursday followed by 117 degrees on Friday. This comes after Arizona’s capital set the same record back in April.
Phoenix broke 18 daily heat records in 2020 and tied another 15 times.
Victim recounts run-in with suspect accused in West Valley shootings
A man who encountered the suspect accused in a string of shootings in the West Valley considers himself lucky after a close call the night before the crime spree.
Shane, a Door Dash driver, told KTAR News 92.3 FM he was talking on the phone with his wife in his car at a Circle K near 95th and Olive avenues in Peoria at about 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday when he noticed a man in a large, oversized black sweatshirt staring at him when he exited the store.
The man, who Shane identified as 19-year-old Ashin Tricarico, approached Shane and asked him, “you think you’re a bad boy, don’t you?”
Tricarico then got into his car, slid over a fully automatic rifle from his passenger’s seat, loaded it and pointed it at Shane.
Shane called 911. Tricarico left the parking lot and Shane followed in the same direction on Olive Avenue because he was completing a work request.
Their interaction didn’t end there, according to Shane.
He stopped right in the middle of traffic, I see the gun barrel stick out the side of his window and I’m telling the 911 lady on the phone, ‘He is going to shoot me, he is going to shoot me,’” Shane said. “About two seconds later, he does a big U-turn right in the middle of Olive and comes back toward me.
“I ducked down and he did shoot at me.”
Tricarico shot once at Shane, an interaction heard by the Peoria police 911 dispatcher who was on the line with the victim.
Court documents released Friday corroborated Shane’s account of the incident.
“You don’t just turn around in the middle of traffic, point a gun and shoot at somebody,” Shane said.
Shane was unharmed in the shooting, but said it spooked him.
Group of cyclists hit by man driving a pickup truck in Show Low
A group of bicyclists were struck by a truck in Show Low, authorities said Saturday morning.
Show Low Police said a 35-year-old man crossed lane lines into a group of an estimated 40 to 50 bicyclists around 7:25 a.m. participating in the annual Bike the Bluff event.
He fled the scene, leaving four people in critical condition, two in critical but stable condition, and one person transported in air with an unknown status.
Man arrested in west Phoenix after exchanging gunfire with police
Phoenix police arrested a man on several charges after he shot at two officers early Sunday morning, authorities said.
Officers responded to a call shortly before 1 a.m. to remove a man involved in an argument inside JJ’s Grill near 96th Avenue and Camelback Road.
When the man, whose name has not been released, was asked to leave, he drove toward the officers and began shooting at them.
The officers fired back as the man continued driving eastbound. The driver continued firing at police and managed to escape.
Police were able to track the suspect down through his address where they arrested him.
