Police Arrest Teenagers Dubbed As ‘Copycats’ Of The Deadly Arizona Highway Shootings – They Were Hurling Stones, Not Firing Bullets

The Arizona police arrested a trio of teenagers and have dubbed them “copycats” of the deadly highways shootings. However, instead of firing lethal bullets, these teenagers were hurling stones with a slingshot.

In one of the unusual but dangerous acts of vandalism, three teenagers have been arrested by Arizona police for firing projectiles at vehicles on Arizona’s highways. The teenagers were reportedly targeting the window panes of vehicles. Though they have been arrested, authorities state that it is highly unlikely that the boys are the ones who are behind the deadly shootings that have occurred recently.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio confirmed that the 18-year-olds had confessed to aiming projectiles with a slingshot at several cars and pedestrians between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, reported MSN.

“This probably is a copycat but that’s still serious and I’m sure there will be copycats out there.”

Arpaio clearly implied that the teenagers were mere delinquents, and it wasn’t possible that these kids were in anyway responsible or connected to a wave of vehicle shootings along a major highway in Phoenix, reported Fox News. Arizona’s highways have become quite dangerous, owing to a spate of unsolved freeway shootings. So far, 11 vehicles have been targeted. These vehicles were hit with bullets and other projectiles along a 10-mile (16-km) stretch of Interstate 10. This particular section runs through the Phoenix metro area and is usually populated with cars.

The kids have been charged with criminal damage and conspiracy, and they were remanded in police custody for the weekend. It is unlikely they will be prosecuted for their crimes and may be released after a stern warning. Despite being let go, it will be foolish to consider their crime as a minor infraction, cautioned Arpaio.

“They attacked six pedestrians and seven vehicles. They were caught when the victims in one of the vehicles were able to report their license plate.

“Don’t kid yourself. What the kids were doing last night was absolutely lethal. None of us should have to drive the highways and roadways and worry about people just randomly shooting items at our vehicles.”

Though the “copycats” may be released soon, the Arizona highway shootings have left many shaken and worried. Terming the incidents as “domestic terrorism,” Colonel Frank Milstead, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, has assured drivers that police have been on high alert, but there’s a lot of ground to cover.

“We have an incredibly large footprint along the I-10 corridor,” he said.

[Image Credit | Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images]