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Man arrested in connection with fatal west Phoenix shooting

Police arrested Jiovani Gortarez, who is accused of fatally shooting a man near 36th and Tamarisk avenues on Sunday.

PHOENIX — A man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting that happened in west Phoenix over the weekend. The suspect allegedly told police that the gun went off on its own.

The shooting happened at 5:17 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15 near 36th and Tamarisk avenues, according to court documents. 

Security footage in the area showed the suspect, 24-year-old Jiovani Gortarez driving up to a business in the area, trying to open the doors, and driving west down Tamarisk Avenue.

The victim was reportedly walking eastward on Tamarisk Avenue when Gortarez stopped his truck beside the man. Gortarez allegedly told police that he and the victim got into a verbal argument that escalated into a physical fight.

According to court documents, Gortarez admitted to getting out of the car and pulling out a handgun that was in his pocket, but denied that he intentionally shot the victim. Instead, Gortarez allegedly insisted that the gun went off on its own.

Gortarez then reportedly got back in his truck and drove away. Police were able to track the license plate number from surveillance footage and got a rough area of where Gortarez lived from witnesses, and arrested him near I-17 and Cactus Road after a few days of surveillance.

Gortarez is facing one count of second degree murder, and is being held on a $1 million bond.

The victim has not been identified.

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