TEMPE, Ariz — A 17-year-old is facing murder charges and a family is left mourning after Tempe Police say he killed a man who stopped to help after witnessing a hit-and-run crash.
Investigators say 22-year-old Joseph DeLegge was the man that was killed.
“They have no idea what they took,” Louis DeLegge, Joseph’s father said.
Louis DeLegge said it’s not surprising Joseph stopped to help another driver Friday evening.
“He always stopped, whenever he saw someone he always stopped,” Louis DeLegge said.
Tempe Police tell 12 News Joseph saw a hit-and-run crash happen near the 202 and Scottsdale Friday evening.
Police said five juveniles in one of the cars ran from the scene, and Joseph stopped to help the other driver.
The two of them then followed three of the juveniles, confronting them in a parking lot.
Police said Joseph removed a gun from his waistband and told them to wait until police arrived. That’s when, according to investigators, 17-year-old Antonio Misquez, also from the hit and run showed up.
Investigators said Joseph displayed his gun and when he turned back towards the other juveniles, Misquez shot him.
“They have no idea what they took,” Louis DeLegge said.
Joseph died at the hospital. Louis DeLegge said his son was a talented artist with an entrepreneurial heart and always wanted to help others.
“Very competitive, just fun, great sense of humor, always laughing,” Louis DeLegge said of his son.
Misquez is being charged as an adult and faces a murder charge among a host of others.
“We forgive that young man,” Louis DeLegge said. “Joey would’ve.”
The family has set up a GoFundMe to help lay Joseph to rest. You can find a link to that here.
