Man hurt in Tempe freeway shooting
By Kristina Davis, Tribune
December 31, 2005
In the East Valley’s second freeway shooting this month, a bullet grazed a passenger’s skull Friday when a gunman on Interstate 10 opened fire on a car during morning rush hour.

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The Tempe incident, which appears to be random, is similar to a fatal shooting on U.S. 60 in Mesa earlier this month, although police don’t believe they are related.

The victim in Friday’s shooting, identified only as a 25-year-old man from Mexico, is expected to survive the gunshot wound that sliced through his scalp.

The man, who was a backseat passenger, was traveling with three other men to a construction job in Chandler at 6:30 a.m. when a dark sport utility vehicle pulled alongside the car, which was in the car pool lane, police said.

The shooter rolled down his window, pointed a gun at the men and fired at least once into the car as the victims tried to speed away.

The bullet shattered the back window, burrowed through the victim’s scalp and traveled several inches before exiting.

The car traveled east on Interstate 10 near Tempe Diablo Stadium, then swerved across several lanes of traffic to get onto eastbound U.S. 60 and exit at Mill Avenue. Seeing signs for a hospital ahead, they made their way toward Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital but then passed it.

The car finally stopped at Mill Avenue and 10th Street near Arizona State University, where police responded to a 911 call. The man was taken to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn hospital.

The three other men in the car told investigators that they did not know the gunman or recognize the vehicle.

The shooter is described as a heavyset Hispanic man who was driving a dark newer-model SUV, similar to a Chevrolet Suburban or GMC Yukon, with dark tinted windows.

"It appears to be random," said Tempe police Sgt. Dan Masters. "Road rage is certainly a strong likelihood as something we’re looking into."

The shooting is similar to a Dec. 9 incident on U.S. 60 that killed the driver of a pickup truck.

The occupants were returning from a construction job in Globe during afternoon rush hour when a tan Cadillac pulled alongside it. A rear passenger rolled down the window and shot Yeri Jose Guadalupe Garcia, 18, of Clarksville, Ark., with a rifle.

Mesa investigators said Friday they still have no motive and are searching for a tan metallic Cadillac. The car had Cadillac emblems on the body and wheels and dark tinted windows â€â€