PHOENIX - Phoenix police arrested Rodney Patterson Friday on suspicion of second-degree murder after finding his girlfriend dead in an apartment building.
Police found Patterson, 20, about a block-and-a-half away from the scene at 19th and Glendale avenues and arrested him.
Police said Patterson shot his 22-year-old girlfriend. They had a troubled relationship, authorities said. Her identity has not been released yet.
Police are still searching for another man who they say was inside the apartment at the time of the shooting.
On Saturday, a woman who said she used to date the man now suspected of murder is stepping forward.
The accused killer’s ex, Cheyenne Day, says she can’t believe he’s behind bars and she said she never felt like she was in danger while dating him.
"It just made me cry and cry,” she said about her reaction to finding out about Patterson's arrest.
Day said the two used to date and have been friends since high school.
"He was very kind, very caring," she said. "He cared about a lot of people.”
Which is why she is in disbelief hearing that Patterson is suspected of killing his girlfriend.
“I just felt awful about it -- No, no, no, why was it him? What did he do? What did she do?” Day said.
Police say the shooting happened on Friday afternoon at the Woodbridge Apartments on 19th Avenue and Glendale.
Woodbridge resident Kristaan Robbins said, "I heard, 'pop pop pop.'”
Putting Robbins and other neighbors of the complex on edge.
"I was literally terrified," Robbins said. "Scared for my wife’s well-being.”