Suspect in Buckeye shooting arrested in Tucson, faces attempted homicide charge
Mar 28, 2022, 9:00 PM
(Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Photo)
PHOENIX – The suspect in a West Valley shooting that critically injured a man was arrested in Tucson, authorities said Monday.
Jose Esteban Mendoza, 33, was taken into custody on Friday, the Buckeye Police Department said in a press release. He was booked into Maricopa County jail on multiple counts, including attempted homicide.
Mendoza is accused of shooting a man at around 7 p.m. on March 22. Police said the conflict between Mendoza and the victim started earlier when they were in a vehicle along with Mendoza’s girlfriend.
The man intervened when Mendoza got into an argument with his girlfriend, leading to a physical altercation between the men, police said.
After the group arrived at a home near Yuma Road and Jackrabbit Trail, Mendoza allegedly went inside, got a gun and shot the man.
Police said Mendoza fled in a 2015 black Dodge Charger SXT before officers arrived on the scene. The man was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Buckeye Police and the U.S. Marshals Service tracked Mendoza to Tucson and arrested him.