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Suspected carjacker arrested after Vegas shootout

Carrie Watters
Aug. 11, 2006 08:50 PM

A man suspected of a string of carjackings in the Northwest Valley area earlier this week was caught after a shoot out with the Las Vegas Police Department.

Raul Gonzalez, 31, is suspected of carjacking nine cars and firing at two others in the Sun City and Surprise-area on Tuesday before he fled north to Vegas, committing crimes along the way, said Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Gonzalez was caught on Wednesday after he robbed a Marshall's Department store in Vegas. Gonzalez fired on police officers and was shot in the heel outside of the store, Arpaio said. The man grabbed a woman as a hostage before being tackled by Vegas police officers.

The Phoenix Police Department picked up Gonzalez in December 2005 for burglary and larceny. He was released on April 25 to immigration authorities, Arpaio said. "We don't know whether they deported him," he said.

The sheriff said he discovered the man was back after finding his fingerprints in at least one of the carjacked vehicles.

Gonzalez is being connected to an armed robbery at a Papa John's Pizza in Flagstaff and a carjacking there and in Williams, Arpaio said.

The sheriff said that Las Vegas authorities were likely to get first chance at trying the man with more serious charges that involve firing at police officers and taking a hostage.



Reach the reporter at carrie.watters@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-6934.