PD: Suspect accused of murdering 2 girls at Casa Grande apartment complex arrested
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. - Officials with the Casa Grande Police Department say they are investigating a shooting that left two females dead, and nearly a week later, an arrest was made.
Shooting happened on Sunday night
According to a statement released on the department's Facebook page on April 25, officers responded at around 8:39 p.m. on April 24 to multiple reports of shots fired at an apartment complex near Florence Boulevard and Pottenbaum Road. At the scene, officers found two victims with multiple gunshot wounds.
One of the victims, according to police, was found inside a car with gunshot wounds to her torso, and the other victim was found directly behind the car, also with gunshot wounds to her torso.
Police say the victim found inside the car, identified as 18-year-old Leslie Cota, was declared dead at the scene. The other victim 17-year-old Danielle Murrieta, was taken to a Phoenix area hospital, and died shortly before midnight.
"Currently, it is unclear as to the motivation or cause of this shooting. It is also unclear if these two females were the intended targets," read a portion of the statement.
Suspect caught, police still looking for vehicle
18-year-old Terrance Xavier Santistevan
Law enforcement announced the arrest of 18-year-old Terrance Xavier Santistevan after a six-day search, but his car is still missing.
"Additionally, it was recently discovered that Santistevan fled to Texas. Casa Grande Detectives collaborated with the United States Marshal Service and the Pflugerville Police Department to locate Santistevan in Pflugerville, Texas. They took him into custody on Saturday, April 30, 2022, without incident. Santistevan is currently being held in the Travis County Sheriff's Office Detention Center, pending extradition to Arizona," says the Casa Grande Police Department.
It was believed that a silver Chrysler 300 was involved with dark tinted windows, including the windshield. The car also reportedly has stock chrome rims, a stainless steel muffler, and minor damage to the front left area of the car, described as "black scrapes."
The car has a license plate reading 9DA2MG.
Santistevan may face two first-degree murder charges pending a review by the Pinal County Attorney's Office.
Anyone with information should leave an anonymous tip by calling Silent Witness at (520) 836-2100.
Si tiene alguna información sobre este caso, llame a la línea de Silent Witness (520-836-2100).
**UPDATED INFO**
The description of the possible suspect vehicle has changed to Silver Chrysler 300 with dark tinted windows to include windshield,
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