Domestic Terrorism Warning: Arizona Highway Sniper Shootings Linked To Possible Terrorism, Police Say

Domestic terrorism is being blamed for the latest spate of highway sniper shootings in Arizona. State police believe from their current investigation that the unexplained shooting incidents may point to this terrorism theory.

In Arizona, a 13-year-old girl was injured from the highway sniper attacks. She sustained a minor cut on her front ear from broken glass after a bullet shot through the SUV’s windshield on August 29. Attacks doled out in Michigan and Arizona in the last few weeks have fortunately not yielded any casualties. A number of damaged vehicles struck by flying projectiles have been documented, but it’s difficult to pinpoint a suspect in the cases.

A 10-mile stretch of Interstate 10 in Arizona has been the target of multiple highway sniper shootings; five of them were confirmed as shootings by police — while the others are said to involve a projectile.

The Arizona highway sniper is “a real and continuing threat to Arizona motorists,” Arizona Department of Public Safety Col. Frank Milstead said Tuesday in a press conference with reporters. He says it’s just a matter of time that a tragedy unfolds on the roadways if this continues.

Public safety spokesperson Bart Graves spoke with the New York Daily News about the latest domestic terrorism conclusions that are being speculated. The situation is serious, and drivers are urged to use precaution while on the roads.

The award for silent witnesses providing information leading to the Arizona highway sniper has gone from $5,000 to $20,000, according to the Arizona Republic.

Two incidents were reported on Tuesday in Arizona. One involved an off-duty Phoenix police sergeant who was wearing regular clothes. He was driving to work on eastbound I-10 near 35th Avenue at about 5:20 a.m. when an object suddenly shattered the passenger window of his car. Another incident happened Sunday on Loop 202 near 32nd Street about 8:30 p.m.

Milstead is telling motorists to be “hypervigilant” on the roads and to stay focused while behind the wheel no matter what happens.

“If you drive that stretch of roadway, be hypervigilant. Do not be distracted while you’re operating your car or truck.”

The DPS is asking anyone with information regarding the highway sniper shootings to contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS, or 480-948-6377. People can also emails tips at silentwitness.org.

Michigan has also been in the news for sniper attacks. Most of those happened in July and August. It’s unknown if there’s any connection in those shootings to the domestic terrorism suspicions in Arizona.

[Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images]