A 36-year-old Mesa man has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of his son, a Tempe resident whose body was found along Interstate 8 near Dateland, authorities said.

The body of Mario Nez, 19, was found at about 7:15 a.m. Monday, Dec. 12, by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, according to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to find the Tempe man’s body lying along the shoulder of the roadway around Interstate 8 and mile marker 65. Nez had what appeared to be gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

While authorities were at the scene, there was a report of a collision on I-8 several miles away, and deputies said they found that one of the vehicles in the crash was at the homicide scene.

The YCSO Criminal Investigations Bureau took over the case, and a search began for the suspect.

“The area was canvassed and with aerial assistance of Western Sky Helicopters, the suspect was located in the area of mile marker 54, in the desert,” a sheriff’s office release stated.

The suspect, and father of the victim, Jose Gallardo, 36, of Mesa was arrested and booked into the Yuma County Detention Center on a charge of first-degree murder.

Anyone with information regarding the case may contact the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office at 928-783-4427 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous. Or visit: www.yumacountysheriff.org to submit an anonymous tip.