'Psycho' Arrested After Short Chase
Officers Acted On Tip, Set Up Surveillance
POSTED: 9:45 am MST January 2,
2008
UPDATED: 3:43 pm MST January 2,
2008
PHOENIX -- A man who goes by the nickname "Psycho" has been arrested on suspicion of shooting and wounding six people Saturday night in a west Phoenix neighborhood, police said.Jose Francisco Mendoza was arrested late Tuesday night after a short chase near 16th and Fillmore streets near downtown Phoenix, said Phoenix police spokesman Sergeant Joel Tranter.Tranter said officers had received a tip that Mendoza was at an apartment complex in the area.Officers set up surveillance and followed Mendoza and a woman as they left the complex in a car.When police tried to pull that car over, Mendoza bailed out and ran, Tranter said. Officers caught up with the 24-year-old minutes later.
Previous Story: 12/31/07 - 'Psycho' Sought In 6 Shootings
Mendoza's sister, Estrella, was booked into jail on Tuesday on numerous felony charges in connection with the shootings. Police said she is suspected of firing some of the shots. She suffered a gunshot wound after one of the victims fired back, police said.Police said Saturday night's shootings appeared to stem from a long-standing dispute between neighbors.Mendoza has a violent criminal history, which includes ties to at least one gang, police said."There is a little bit of history here," Tranter said. "This is not a random act of violence where Mendoza arbitrarily walked up and picked this house and started shooting some people."Police said Mendoza has lived across the street from the shooting victims.Officers said one or more of the victims has a prior criminal history and also gang ties.ELSEWHERE ON KPHO.COM: A Tucson man accused of shooting his longtime friend three times in the chest had his bail lowered from $750,000 to $25,000, despite pleas from his victim's mother and a prosecutor. CLICK HERE for details. MORE SLIDESHOWS: From the bizarre to the tragic to late-breaking news, visit the KPHO.com slideshow section and click away! CLICK HERE for images.
Mendoza's sister, Estrella, was booked into jail on Tuesday on numerous felony charges in connection with the shootings. Police said she is suspected of firing some of the shots. She suffered a gunshot wound after one of the victims fired back, police said.Police said Saturday night's shootings appeared to stem from a long-standing dispute between neighbors.Mendoza has a violent criminal history, which includes ties to at least one gang, police said."There is a little bit of history here," Tranter said. "This is not a random act of violence where Mendoza arbitrarily walked up and picked this house and started shooting some people."Police said Mendoza has lived across the street from the shooting victims.Officers said one or more of the victims has a prior criminal history and also gang ties.
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