MESA, Ariz. — A man suspected of breaking into his ex-partner's home and firing shots at her new boyfriend has been apprehended in Mesa.
Edward Figueroa, 28, was taken into custody on April 17 after barricading himself inside an East Valley apartment before surrendering.
Law enforcement officials had been looking for Figueroa for a shooting reported in San Tan Valley on March 29.
The Pinal County Sheriff's Office said Figueroa allegedly broke into his ex's home and fired shots at her and her new boyfriend, who sustained a leg injury and was taken to the hospital. Two children were also home when the shooting occurred, PCSO said.
The suspect left before deputies arrived on scene. He has now been booked into the Pinal County jail.
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What is the Valley?:
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Glendale
- Surprise
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- El Mirage
- Avondale
- Litchfield Park
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
How big is Maricopa County?
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.
