Three teenagers Aaron Nottingham, Albert German, and Christian Cook have been arrested for an I-10 copycat shooting that occurred Saturday evening. Maricopa County Sheriff’ Joe Arpaio told a group of reporters in a press conference, that just before 7:00 p.m. on Saturday his office received a 911 call where a caller reported his vehicle had been struck by an unknown projectile while in the Town of Queen Creek Az.
This incident follows 11 reported cases of highway incidents which are being investigated by the Department of Public Safety.
The suspect vehicle was located in a Chandler neighborhood near Ocotillo and Cooper Rd. The driver of the vehicle later identified as Nottingham (DOB 5-7-97; 18, Mesa Resident) admitted involvement and identified two other suspects: German (DOB 6-12-97; 18, Mesa Resident) and Cook (DOB 10-20-96; 18, Mesa Resident).
Arpaio says, the vehicle driver and passenger, both Mesa residents, reported that they had been stopped at the intersection of Queen Creek and Ellsworth when the light turned green, the projectile shattered their rear driver’s side window. The vehicles occupants were not injured and were able to identify a passenger vehicle positioned in the lane adjacent to the damaged window. As the vehicle sped away, the victims were able to take pictures of the vehicle and the license plate.
Sheriff’s deputies contacted the Mesa Police Department and discovered that another similar incident had occurred near Ellsworth Rd and State Route 24 approximately 10-20 minutes earlier. The victim in that situation provided a vehicle and incident description identical to the Queen Creek events. Deputies contacted the Arizona Department of Public Safety and provided the details of the two incidents. Due to the circumstances, all three agencies collaborated on the investigation. Both DPS Director Frank Milstead and Sheriff Arpaio believe that these acts are the work of copy cats.
“Sheriff Arpaio praised the victim’s quick actions and notification to the sheriff’s office, which turned into good police work by DPS, Mesa Police and my detectives. These efforts lead to the arrest of three suspects and a continuing investigation.”
Detectives eventually contacted German and Cook in the Mesa area. Both suspects admitted involvement and explained that they had been driving around the Mesa and Queen Creek area sometime last night randomly firing projectiles at pedestrians and vehicles. According to German, Cook, and Nottingham they were using a wrist rocket (sling shot) device to propel ½ -3/4 inch crushed granite landscaping rock at approximately 10 pedestrians and 4 other vehicles. Evidence of the rock was found in the victims vehicle.
All three suspects were later booked into the 4th Avenue Jail on charges of Assault, Endangerment, and Criminal Damage. Another individual, an 18 year old male, is being investigated for charges related to this event.