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Valley man sentenced to 22 years for 'terrorizing' ex-girlfriend's family with drive-by shootings

The young man went on a crime spree in early 2022 when he targeted the relatives of his ex-girlfriend in a series of Phoenix shootings.

PHOENIX — A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison after he went on a crime spree in Phoenix "terrorizing" the family members of his ex-girlfriend, prosecutors said. 

Manuel A. Sierra pleaded guilty to three felony offenses after a Maricopa County grand jury indicted him last year for 72 charges that occurred between December 2021 and May 2022.

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office said Sierra had driven to 11 Valley residences during that time frame and fired shots at the homes. The defendant also set fire to a vehicle. 

The first shooting was reported on New Year's Eve near 27th Avenue and Baseline Road.

No one was injured during the shootings. 

Investigators learned the homes were occupied by family members of Sierra's ex-girlfriend. 

The defendant had been researching his ex-girlfriend's family on his phone and investigators were able to connect him to the shootings by tracing his cell phone's geographical data, prosecutors said. 

Sierra will be prohibited from having contact with 32 victims involved in the case after the victims obtained lifetime injunctions against him. 

RELATED: Boyfriend accused of targeting ex's family with 11 drive-by shootings in Phoenix

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