Police Chief: Man accused in shooting death of 10-year-old girl has "violent criminal history"

PHOENIX (FOX 10) -- Although Joshua Gonzalez, the man arrested in connection with the shooting death of 10-year-old Summer Bell Brown in an apparent road rage incident, is just 20-years-old, Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams says he has a violent criminal history, which includes a juvenile record.

Gonzalez denies he's the shooter, but investigators say the evidence they found weighs heavily against him.

"This tragedy came down to critical information and tips in solving this case," said Chief Williams. "The community involvement, the compassion truly assisted in bringing justice for Summer and her family."

According to court documents, an anonymous tipster provided detectives with the Gonzalez's name. The tipster also told police, he was known to carry a gun. That led detectives to a home, where the pickup believed to have been used in the shooting was found. Police say they watched Gonzalez change the tires and rims on the truck. Gonzalez left the home in another car, but was stopped and arrested.

Police say they found a 9mm gun hidden at Gonzalez's home, and Gonzalez's work shirt is orange, the same color shirt the shooter was wearing in surveillance video,

In his initial court appearance Friday, Gonzalez was polite and softspoken. Neighbors were stunned to learn he's accused of murdering a little girl.

"Anger sometimes makes us do things we don't want to," said Gilberto del Rio. "Unfortunately, him being a father, I hope he didn't intentionally do anything to hurt another child."

The family of Summer Bell Brown has not confirmed that the man in jail for their daughter's murder is the same man they saw shooting at them.

"You're innocent until proven guilty, so I don't want anybody to assume that 'oh he's guilty'," said Dharquintium Brown, Summer Brown's father. "Let the justice system play. Sometimes it can be flawed."

Neighbors say Gonzalez is the father of a baby girl. He is facing charges of first degree murder, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence. The judge has set a $1 million cash-only bond.

GoFundMe for Summer Bell Brown
https://www.gofundme.com/f/d25pcd-Summer-Mellody-memorial

Team Nicole Garcia