INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
Two teenagers and an adult have been arrested as suspects in the killing of a 5-year-old who was shot while inside a car on March 17, Tempe police said Monday.
Demarcus Frazier, 30, Charles Adams, 17, and Freddy Paterson, 16, were charged in the slaying, police said. The teens are being charged as adults in the homicide.
At about 11:45 p.m. Friday, March 17, Tempe police said 24 rounds from one vehicle were fired into a Chevy Impala near 52nd Street and Broadway Road, killing the 5-year-old and injuring two other juveniles.
Authorities said the Impala had one adult and six juveniles inside when the shots were fired as it traveled eastbound on Broadway Road from 48th Street.
Tempe police said last week that multiple arrests had been made but did not release the names of the suspects until Monday, March 27.
“As a mother and as the chief of police, our top priority was to solve the crime of a homicide to a 5-year-old,” interim Tempe Police Chief Josie Montenegro said.
In addition to the murder charges, the suspects face aggravated assault charges.