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Police investigate violent crime spree in Phoenix; 4 suspects arrested

Published  December 28, 2018 9:10pm MST
FOX 10 Phoenix

PHOENIX (FOX 10) -- Police are looking into why four suspects went on a rampage, shooting their guns, robbing people at gunpoint and even assaulting someone.

This didn't happen all in one place. Authorities say these suspects went from one location to another, wreaking havoc.

Police say the suspects are all young, with the oldest being in his early 20s. Some of them are juveniles and now investigators are looking into what charges they will face.

One of the suspects waved a gun around while driving through the west Valley as police tried to catch up with them. Officers say they were just shocked at how fast these suspects moved.

"This is one of those incidents.. it took about a half an hour, but in those 30 minutes, these four suspects were just committing just some really violent acts," said Phoenix Police Sgt. Mercedes Fortune.

Four locations in just 30 minutes. Police say it all started Friday afternoon on a bus when one the suspects assaulted a person at gunpoint. Afterwards, the suspects took off in a black SUV. Then minutes later, a second call to police was made about that vehicle in another neighborhood and shots being fired.

"I thought it was a firework at first, but then I came out and I seen the guy with the gun."

The witness, who did not want his face on camera, says two of the suspects robbed two children at gunpoint, stealing a phone. The witness says he tried to help by calling the police and writing down the license plate of the suspect's black SUV.

"Crazy, I mean, it's bad enough they're going to steal from him, but put a gun at him?"

Detectives determined that the SUV was stolen out of Tolleson earlier in the day. They spotted the vehicle near 83rd Avenue and Van Buren. While attempting to pull the driver over, a pursuit ensued, then one of the suspects crashed the vehicle.

At that point, the suspects tried to run away from the scene and hide. One suspect was found in a Circle K store with a rifle, two were found hiding in a nearby dumpster and a fourth was located near a baseball park.

Police say these suspects could face charges, including robbery, aggravated assault and possessing a stolen vehicle. Their names have not been released.