The man accused in a string of Valley freeway shootings has lost support from an alibi witness.
Leslie Merritt Jr.’s fiancee had said that he was with her at the time of the attacks in August and September. Now, she’s backing away from those claims. But a lawyer for Merritt said in a court filing that the fiancee recanted the alibi after investigators falsely claimed there were video recordings of the shootings and raised the possibility that Merritt’s family members could face domestic terrorism charges.
Merritt still claims phone records and family accounts will show that he wasn't near the scene of the shootings that put drivers on edge this summer. No one was seriously injured after eight cars were hit with bullets and three were struck with projectiles, such as BBs, mostly along Interstate 10. Merritt has pleaded not guilty.
