Police arrest suspect in string of 11 Phoenix-area freeway shootings that have kept drivers on edge for weeks

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Authorities arrested Leslie Allen Merritt Jr., 21, at a Wal-Mart in a suburb of Phoenix on Friday night
Merritt Jr. reportedly pawned a 9mm handgun that officials confirmed was used in at least four shootings
Officials say he is linked to the first four shootings that happened on August 29 and August 31
Since August 29 there have been 11 confirmed shootings of vehicles in the Phoenix area on or near the Interstate 10 freeway
There have been no serious injuries, though a 13-year-old girl's ear was cut by glass after a bullet shattered a window of a car she was riding in
A judge ordered the release of a 19-year-old man who was detained at a convenience store September 11 and questioned regarding the shootings

Published: 22:13 EST, 18 September 2015 | Updated: 01:01 EST, 19 September 2015

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A suspect has been arrested in a string of shootings along Phoenix-area freeways that have kept drivers on edge for weeks, state officials said Friday night.

Police arrested 21-year-old Leslie 'Les' Allen Merritt Jr. at a Wal-Mart in Glendale, a suburb west of Phoenix, on Friday around 7pm.

Officials say at the time of the arrest, Merritt Jr. was with a woman and a five-year-old child outside of the store. He was the only one taken into custody.

At a press conference on Friday night, Arizona Department of Public Safety director Col. Frank Milstead said that Merritt Jr. is linked to the first four shootings that happened on August 29 and August 31.

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Arrested: Police arrested 21-year-old Leslie Allen Merritt Jr. (above) at a Wal-Mart in Glendale, a suburb west of Phoenix, on Friday around 7pm

Surveillance: The Arizona Department of Public Safety had reportedly been monitoring Merritt Jr. (above) all day on Friday

An official said that DPS located a 9mm handgun that was recently pawned by Merritt Jr. (above) and that it matched the same one used in the first four freeway shootings

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced the arrest of the suspect in the tweet above

He faces a wide-range of charges, including criminal damage, aggravated assault and unlawful discharge of a firearm, officials say.

Authorities were monitoring Merritt Jr. the entire day of Friday after they determined that a weapon he owned is forensically linked to the incidents.

Milstead added that Arizonians have been incredible with their leads in the shootings and that copycat cases are still possible.

Last week, Milstead said that he believed there could be multiple shooters and has previously called the incidents 'domestic terrorism crimes.'

At a press conference on Friday night, Arizona Department of Public Safety director Frank Milstead said that Merritt Jr. (above) is linked to four shootings that happened on August 29 and August 31

Merritt Jr. (above) faces a wide-range of charges, including criminal damage, aggravated assault and unlawful discharge of a firearm, officials say

Col. Frank Milstead (center), Director of the Department of Public Safety speaks during a press conference on Friday, September 18. He is flanked by ATF Special Agent in Charge Tom Atteberry (left) and U.S Marshall for the District of Arizona David Gonzales (right)

Gov. Doug Ducey announced the arrest in a tweet that said: 'We got him! DPS SWAT team is in custody of the individual suspected of I-10 shootings. Apprehended moments ago.'

Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio tweeted that DPS located a 9mm handgun that was recently pawned and that it matched the same one used in the freeway shootings.

In another tweet, DiCiccio says that lab analysis confirmed it is the 'same gun as freeway shootings. Person who pawned the gun is same person who purchased gun.'

Since August 29, there have been 11 confirmed shootings of vehicles in the Phoenix area involving bullets or other projectiles.

Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio wrote the above tweet about the suspect being arrested on Friday

Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio wrote on Twitter that lab analysis confirmed that the same gun used in the freeway shootings is the same one that was pawned

Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio wrote the message above on Twitter celebrating the 'great news' about the suspect's arrest

Most of the incidents occurred along Interstate 10, a major route through the city.

There have been no serious injuries, though a 13-year-old girl's ear was cut by glass after a bullet shattered a window of a vehicle she was riding in.

There has not been a confirmed shooting in the case since September 10.

The shootings have prompted several school districts to keep their buses off freeways, and some motorists have altered their commutes to avoid driving I-10.

Authorities offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case and also distributed thousands of fliers in neighborhoods along I-10 to raise awareness about the shootings and the reward, but they have been tight-lipped about any details in the case.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety said state troopers have stepped up patrols, while other agencies assisting in the investigation have included Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa police as well as the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Arizona Department of Public Safety officers inspect a tractor trailer with a bullet hole in the passenger door shortly after it was shot near 67th Ave and I-10, Thursday, September 10, 2015 in Phoenix

High alert: Drivers in Phoenix have been on high alert after at least nine vehicles in 10 days were shot at while driving on local freeways. The photo above shows a bullet hole in one of the vehicles that was hit

'I think it's fair to say since a week ago, we've made headway in this case,' Graves said earlier Friday.

Meanwhile Friday, a judge ordered the release of 19-year-old Oscar De La Torre Munoz, who was detained at a convenience store September 11 and questioned regarding the shootings.

Authorities have declined to explain why Munoz was questioned about the shootings but have said he was not a prime suspect.

He was arrested on an alleged probation violation stemming from marijuana found in the man's house during a September 11 search based on a tip that he was violating probation by possessing a gun.

Munoz had been sentenced to probation on an endangerment conviction for excessive speeding and fleeing from police.

Route: Most of the shootings occurred along Interstate 10, which is a major route through the city

There have been no serious injuries, though a 13-year-old girl's ear was cut by glass after a bullet shattered a window of a vehicle she was riding in

A judge ordered the release on Friday of 19-year-old Oscar De La Torre Munoz (above), who was detained at a convenience store September 11 and questioned regarding the shootings

THE 11 SHOOTINGS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY ARIZONA STATE DETECTIVES:

Saturday, August 29, 2015, at 11:10 am: A SUV was traveling east on Interstate 10 at 19th Avenue and was struck by a bullet.

Saturday, August 29, 2015, between 11:10 am and 11:25 am: An unoccupied commercial tour bus was traveling west on Interstate 10 between 35th Avenue and 67th Avenue and was struck by a bullet.

Saturday, August 29, 2015, at 10:15 pm: A passenger car was traveling east on Interstate 10 at the mini-stack (east of 16th Street) and was struck by a bullet.

Sunday, August 30, 2015, at 9:45 pm: A passenger car was traveling west on Interstate 10 between Sky Harbor Boulevard and SR 51 and was stuck by a bullet.

Monday, August 31, 2015, at 4:30 am: A pickup truck was traveling east on Interstate 10 between 24th Street and 40th Street and was struck by a bullet.

Sunday, September 6, 2015, at 5:50 pm: A box truck was traveling south on Interstate 17 near Dunlap Road and a ladder attached to it was struck by a bullet.

Sunday, September 6, 2015, at 8:30 pm: A passenger car was traveling west on SR 202 between 32nd Street and 24th Street and was struck by a bullet. This vehicle was involved in an earlier incident with another passenger car.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015, at 5:21 am: A box truck was traveling west on Interstate 10 at 27th Avenue and was struck by a projectile.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015, between 5:35 am and 5:37 am: A pickup truck was traveling east on Interstate 10 between 43rd Avenue and 35th Avenue and was struck by a projectile.

Wednesday, September 09, 2015, at 10:45 am: A pickup was traveling east on Interstate 10 near 39th Avenue and was struck by a projectile.

Thursday, September 10, 2015, at 9:40 am: Detectives were called to the area of 83rd Avenue and Latham to investigate a hole found in the side of a commercial truck-tractor pulling a semi-trailer. It was determined the hole was caused by a bullet strike. It has not been determined when or at what location the semi-trailer was struck.