It has been weeks since authorities have arrested and charged one Leslie Merritt Jr. in connection with the shooting spree that took place along a large section of the I-10 in Phoenix about a month ago.
Merritt Jr., of Glendale, was arrested outside of a Walmart on Sept. 18 has been indicted by a grand jury and arraigned on 15 charges after his High Point 9mm semi-automatic handgun was forensically linked to four of the 11 highway shootings, and is currently being held on a $1 million bond while awaiting trial.
No one was killed in any of the incidences, one 13 year-old girl suffered a cut on her ear in one of the incidences. Still, many Valley residents were struck by fear.
When asked for an interview, Holly Holmes, who is a general contractor, wife and mother of two young children, lives in north Phoenix …show more content…
“Even then, I really didn’t let it phase me as there wasn’t anything either one of us could do without travelling hours out of her way to get where she was going.”
Not all residents were as brazen as these two. Many residents found themselves in a predicament where they just avoided the I-10 altogether.
Trevor Widmann, resident of Scottsdale, drives for both Uber and Lyft. Widmann found himself sacrificing hours and miles to a getting on any of the local freeways while the incidences were taking place. Since the arrests Trevor feels much more comfortable driving on the I-10 instead of McDowell Road for many of his daily commutes.
“There’s a lot more peace of mind knowing it’s been weeks and police have made an arrest,” Trevor said.
Leslie Merritt Jr. was arraigned on October 1, and is scheduled to appear next on Oct. 13 in front of Judge Jerry Bernstein. Charges against him include aggravated assault, drive by shooting and unlawful discharge of a firearm.
This case is still ongoing as police have not made any further arrests regarding the 7 occurrences not linked to Merritt
Merritt Jr., of Glendale, was arrested outside of a Walmart on Sept. 18 has been indicted by a grand jury and arraigned on 15 charges after his High Point 9mm semi-automatic handgun was forensically linked to four of the 11 highway shootings, and is currently being held on a $1 million bond while awaiting trial.
No one was killed in any of the incidences, one 13 year-old girl suffered a cut on her ear in one of the incidences. Still, many Valley residents were struck by fear.
When asked for an interview, Holly Holmes, who is a general contractor, wife and mother of two young children, lives in north Phoenix …show more content…
“Even then, I really didn’t let it phase me as there wasn’t anything either one of us could do without travelling hours out of her way to get where she was going.”
Not all residents were as brazen as these two. Many residents found themselves in a predicament where they just avoided the I-10 altogether.
Trevor Widmann, resident of Scottsdale, drives for both Uber and Lyft. Widmann found himself sacrificing hours and miles to a getting on any of the local freeways while the incidences were taking place. Since the arrests Trevor feels much more comfortable driving on the I-10 instead of McDowell Road for many of his daily commutes.
“There’s a lot more peace of mind knowing it’s been weeks and police have made an arrest,” Trevor said.
Leslie Merritt Jr. was arraigned on October 1, and is scheduled to appear next on Oct. 13 in front of Judge Jerry Bernstein. Charges against him include aggravated assault, drive by shooting and unlawful discharge of a firearm.
This case is still ongoing as police have not made any further arrests regarding the 7 occurrences not linked to Merritt