DOMESTIC TERRORISM: Someone Is Shooting At Cars On A Phoenix Highway
Authorities urged motorists to be on guard and report any suspicious activity.
DAVID SCHWARTZ
The number of possible vehicle shootings along a stretch of freeway in Phoenix has jumped to nine over the last 10 days, the head of Arizona’s state police said on Tuesday.
Colonel Frank Milstead, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, said the attacks continued following two possible shootings early Tuesday on Interstate 10, the southernmost transcontinental highway in the U.S.
Advertisement
The shootings began on Aug. 29 along a roughly 10-mile segment of the highway when gunfire shattered the windshield of a sport utility vehicle, authorities said.
A 13-year-old girl sustained a minor cut to her right ear, the only injury that has been reported.
On Tuesday, a Phoenix police sergeant told state troopers he believes a bullet shattered the passenger side window of his personal vehicle as he was driving to work.
The sergeant was not in uniform and was not injured, police said, adding that it could not immediately be determined if the vehicle was struck by gunfire or something else such as road debris.
Details of the second incident were not disclosed.
“It’s just a matter of time, if this continues, that we have tragedy on our roadways,” Milstead said at a news conference.
Authorities also announced on Tuesday that a reward fund has been increased to $20,000 from $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Police said that they have not confirmed that all the incidents involved gunfire, saying only that some were hit by a projectile. Investigators also have not yet determined whether the incidents are connected.
On the first reported day of the shootings, a bus with only the driver on board was hit and a third vehicle was struck late that night, with the driver noticing a bullet hole after inspecting her vehicle the next day, officials said.
Milstead said the agency was using its gang task force, special weapons and tactics personal and undercover detectives for freeway surveillance, and was working with federal and local law enforcement.
He urged motorists to be on guard and report any suspicious activity, branding the recent incidents “domestic terrorism.”
Advertisement
“If you drive that stretch of roadway, always be vigilant,” he said. “Under these circumstances, be hyper vigilant.”
(Editing by Victoria Cavaliere)
Also on HuffPost:
Shootings In America
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.