A bullet hole in the windshield of a vehicle struck by gunfire in Arizona. (Department of Public Safety Photo)
Police in Arizona are searching for a gunman or gunmen after at least 10 vehicles were struck by bullets or other projectiles since August 29 along a Phoenix area highway.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety has called the shootings “domestic terrorism,” and say they do not know if there is one shooter or multiple “copy cat” shooters, the Arizona Republic reports.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. There Have Been No Serious Injuries or Fatalities
There have been no fatalities as a result of the shootings and only one minor injury, police said.
On August 29, in the first shooting incident, a girl riding in a vehicle struck by a bullet was injured by shattered glass, but was not taken to the hospital. She suffered a cut to her ear.
2. A Possible 11th Shooting Was Reported on Thursday
We are currently investigating a delayed report of a bullet that struck a commercial vehicle. No other information is available.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said on Thursday that it was investigating a possible 11th shooting incident. A driver reported that his vehicle may have been struck by a bullet or projectile.
3. A $20,000 Reward Has Been Offered for Information About the Shootings
A $20,000 reward has been set up for information about the shootings.
“Somebody is very aware of who this is,” Arizona Department of Public Safety Colonel Frank Milstead said, according to CNN. “…There should be no benevolence for this person, or apathy. This is a cold-blooded crime. This person is a coward.”
4. Police Are Not Sure That All the Incidents Are Connected
Police have not yet said if all the shooting incidents are connected. The Department of Public Safety said different weapons have been used, and the circumstances surrounding the shootings have not been the same.
Below is a full list of the shootings, from the Department of Public Safety:
- Saturday, August 29, 2015, at 11:10 a.m.: A SUV was traveling east on Interstate 10 at 19th Avenue and was struck by a bullet.
- Saturday, August 29, 2015, between 11:10 a.m. and 11:25 a.m.: 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 p.m.: 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 p.m.: 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 a.m.: 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 p.m.: 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 p.m.: 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 a.m.: 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 a.m. and 5:37 a.m.: 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 a.m.: A pickup was traveling east on Interstate 10 near 39th Avenue and was struck by a projectile.
5. The Shootings Have Brought Back Memories of the Phoenix ‘Serial Shooter’
The shootings have brought back memories for Phoenix residents of the “Serial Shooter” spree in 2005. In that case, two men, Dale Hausner and Samuel Dieterman, killed eight people in drive-by shootings over 15 months.
Hausner was sentenced to death and later died in prison, while Dieterman is serving a life sentence.
The shootings have also drawn comparisons to the 2002 Beltway sniper in the Washington, D.C., area, though police said in that case, the gunmen were targeting people, not vehicles.
