71-year-old man accused of murder after fatal shooting at Phoenix park

PHOENIX – A man in his 70s was arrested after he allegedly shot a man to death at a Phoenix park Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Officers who responded to a shooting call around 9:30 a.m. at Eastlake Park found a man with gunshot wounds, the Phoenix Police Department said.

The victim, 60-year-old Jerry McGee, died after being taken to a hospital.

Officers detained Larry Hall, 71, at the scene near Jefferson and 16th streets and took him to police headquarters.

After Hall was interviewed, he was booked into jail on one count of first-degree murder. His bail was set at $500,000.

Hall and McGee got into an argument at the park that turned physical, according to court records. Hall allegedly left the park after the fight, returned with a gun and shot McGee.

McGee had been at the park with his girlfriend when Hall first approached him. A witness related to Hall told police the altercation was over a previous issue involving McGee and a member of Hall’s family who wasn’t at the park.

Hall apologized multiple times while being interviewed by police, according to court records.

“The defendant admitted that he could have called the police for assistance and thought he could handle the situation by himself,” the probable cause statement for his arrest says.

Police say they found a handgun in Hall’s truck, which was in the parking lot of the park, and multiple casings at the shooting scene.

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