GLENDALE, Ariz. — A 29-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a shooting that killed a 7-year-old girl early Thursday morning, according to the Glendale Police Department.
Police said just after midnight, officers responded to a ShotSpotter, or gunshot detection system, near 65th Avenue and Bethany Home Road.
When officers arrived, they found one shell casing in the street near the area of the call. About 10 minutes later, a man called police saying that a young girl had been shot and they were at a hospital nearby.
Officers responded to the hospital and discovered a 7-year-old girl had been shot multiple times and had died as a result of her injuries,.
Police said the girl was in a vehicle with her mother and her 5-year-old sister when her mother drove to 65th Ave and Bethany Home Road to pick up a male friend.
Police said the man had some type of verbal altercation with the driver of another vehicle, identified as 29-year-old Terriance Armstrong Jr.
The man got into the car with the mother and her two children. The mother then drove off eastbound on Bethany Home Road. Police said Armstrong fired a handgun at the mom's vehicle multiple times striking the 7-year-old girl in the backseat. The girl's family said she was going to turn 8 in a few days. No one else inside the vehicle was hurt, police said.
Police said Armstrong's vehicle was identified as a vehicle in interest and was located by detectives close to where the shooting occurred.
Authorities said Armstrong was detained by Glendale police and US Marshals near 59th Avenue and Granada Road in Phoenix.
Police said Armstrong admitted to getting into an argument with the man and told detectives he shot multiple rounds from his handgun into the man's vehicle.
Officials said during a search of Armstrong's vehicle, detectives found evidence related to the shooting and approximately 3,000 fentanyl pills. Police said they don't believe the shooting was a drug sale gone wrong or gang-related.
Police said Armstrong is facing multiple charges including homicide, drive-by shooting, aggravated assault, endangerment, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and possession of narcotics for sale.
In response to the arrest, Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers said: "Our condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends of the 7-year-old girl whose life was needlessly taken overnight. Our police department worked diligently to find and apprehend the suspect of this terrible crime. It's tragic when these types of events happen, especially to the most innocent."
Glendale Vice Mayor Jamie Aldama also issued a statement saying: "I want to thank the Glendale Police Department for working tirelessly to identify and arrest a suspect. I am heartbroken by the senseless shooting that took the life of an innocent 7-year-old child by someone who holds no value for human life. My deepest sympathies are with the family, friends, and loved ones of this child."
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