The test of Merritt's gun by the Arizona Department of Public Safety "fired bullets (that) were matched to the bullets and bullet fragments from the four cases. The charging document released Saturday night said that investigators determined by testing that the bullets and the bullet fragments from four incidents came from a gun that was owned by the suspect. Tom Mangan, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which has been assisting in the investigation, said the evidence gathered by DPS leaves "no doubt" the gun used was the one owned and pawned by Merritt.Īccording to Mangan, a bullet contains certain land and groove impressions after it's been fired that are unique to a particular firearm. "We're not going to get in a debate about that." "The evidence as you'll see in the next couple of days speaks for itself," Graves said. Graves declined to comment on Merritt's statement in court that his gun was in the pawn shop at the time of the shootings and similar statements made by his family. "Today we are seeing the end result of some incredible police work," he said at a news conference. A tour bus, SUV and two cars were hit by bullets on Interstate 10 on those days. Graves said evidence from shell casings and bullet fragments determined that a gun Merritt pawned was used in four of the shootings on Aug. Doug Ducey proclaimed on Twitter, "We got him!"Īrizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves said the break in the case was the result of exhaustive investigative work in which weapons from local pawn shops were test-fired at the state crime lab. Merritt was arrested Friday evening after a SWAT team swarmed him at a Wal-Mart in the suburb of Glendale. I haven't even had access to a weapon," he said as he stood handcuffed in a black and white striped jail uniform.īut a charging document released late Saturday night by Maricopa Superior Court said that investigators determined Merritt had not pawned his gun at the time of the incidents. My gun's been in the pawn shop the last two months. Superior Court Commissioner Lisa Roberts set bail at $1 million, and Merritt, who had remained quiet during the proceedings, asked in a soft-spoken voice to address the court. "The suspect presents a dramatic and profound threat to the community," said Ed Leiter of the Maricopa County attorney's office. In a brief court appearance, a prosecutor said the 21-year-old should face a high bail after drivers spent the last three weeks on edge. 3 people held in 'copycat' incidents after Ariz.
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