SURPRISE, Ariz. (NewsNation Now) — At least 12 people were injured Thursday in drive-by shootings in three cities west of Phoenix and authorities were trying to determine if a detained suspect was responsible for all of the incidents.
One person was reported dead, according to local officials briefing the press.
A suspect was in custody and authorities said a weapon was found in his vehicle.
The suspect’s name wasn’t immediately released. Authorities believe he acted alone, although a motive wasn’t immediately known.
“We don’t know the nexus, we don’t know what the motive was, we don’t have an idea of what this person was thinking when he went out and did this,” Peoria police spokesman Brandon Sheffert said at a news conference. “Obviously we want to figure this out because there’s a lot of scared people and people this affected.”
Police departments in Peoria, Surprise and Glendale were investigating the shootings in their cities, along with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the FBI.
Peoria police got the initial call about a shooting shortly after 11 a.m., and eight more incidents were reported in the following 90 minutes, Sheffert said.
Four people suffered gunshot wounds, and one of those victims died, he said. That person was found dead in a vehicle along a Peoria freeway.
The other victims had a range of injuries such as shrapnel from broken glass or injuries related to a car crash, Sheffert said.
Officials at Banner Health said they received nine patients at three of their hospitals. But the extent of the victims’ injuries and their conditions were not immediately released.
Peoria police said the suspect was found during a traffic stop in Surprise after witnesses provided authorities with a description of the getaway car.
This is a developing story, check back soon for updates