The Chandler Police Department is asking the public's help in locating two men believed to be involved in the shooting of a Chandler man early yesterday morning.
Chandler Police Detective Frank Mendoza tells New Times that at around 1:30 a.m. yesterday, a man called police to report that someone was trying to shoot him as he was driving his car in the area of Galveston Street and Arizona Avenue.
According to Mendoza, the victim claims a car pulled up behind him and opened fire.
The 20-year-old, Hispanic victim's neck was grazed by a bullet before he used his cell phone to call police.
Police, Mendoza says, responded within minutes, and chased the suspect's car to an apartment complex located at 598 North McQueen Road, where they abandoned the vehicle.
That, unfortunately for one of the three suspects, is why police have dogs.
A canine officer chased the suspects after they ditched their ride and managed to bite the shit out of "apprehend" one of them.
That suspect was 25-year-old Jose Lopez, a Chandler resident.
Lopez
was booked into the Maricopa County Jail and charged with multiple
felonies including attempted murder and several drug charges. Two other
suspects, described as Hispanic males, have not been located but police
believe the two men may live in the area where the vehicle was
abandoned.
Mendoza says police have no motive for the shooting at the moment, and he wasn't sure whether Lopez was cooperating with police.
Chandler Police Detective David Ramer tells New Times
that the victim appears to be a "legitimate victim" and is not
suspected of being involved in any illegal activity. Ramer says the
victim was driving home from a party and was likely the victim of
mistaken identity.
The Chandler Police Department is encouraging
anyone with information about this investigation to call 480-782-4130
or call the Silent Hotline at 480-782-4440.
