A 16-year-old has been booked into jail and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Dec. 18 killing at a Mesa trailer park, police said Monday.

The teen also faces charges of armed robbery, abandonment of a dead body and tampering with evidence.

At about 2:30 p.m. Dec. 18, officers responded to reports of a shooting at the  trailer park, 130 E. McKellips.

Witnesses described seeing a male fire multiple rounds at the victim, who was seated in the driver’s seat of a green truck. The male fled the scene with a rifle, returned moments later and drove away with the victim still in the vehicle, according to a Mesa Police Department release.

Detectives found the truck near 3736 E. Quenton. The victim was inside, dead in the passenger seat with gunshot wounds. A neighborhood canvass produced evidence, including a rifle believed to be the murder weapon, police said.

As the investigation evolved, Mesa police detectives identified a 16-year-old as the suspect, and on Dec. 27 the suspect was found in an apartment and taken into custody.

“During an interview with detectives, he admitted to being present at the scene and holding the weapon that killed the victim,” the release stated.

This case remains active, and authorities ask anyone with information to contact the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.