June 19, 2021- 11:10 p.m.
SURPRISE, Ariz. — New details from the West Valley shooting spree that left one dead and 12 injured show that the suspect, Ashin Tricarico, 19, allegedly began the rampage on Wednesday evening because he believed people were after him, officials said Friday.
Police said Tricarico, of Surprise, was booked into the Maricopa County Jail at 8:45 a.m. on Friday and was charged with first-degree murder, multiple counts of aggravated assault, multiple counts of drive-by shooting and endangerment.
In interviews with Tricarico, police said he told them he believed people were following him around for about a week. Tricarico, a security guard, was involved in a Phoenix shooting one month ago and said that he thought every vehicle and person he drove past was pointing a gun at him, police said.
According to search warrants, Tricarico was working security at a restaurant near Dunlap and I-17 on May 5. He was accused of shooting a drunk customer in the abdomen who was asked to leave. Police said Tricarico claimed he shot in self-defense.
Phoenix Police said that person was taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. Police are still investigating the incident as an aggravated assault case.
Police said Tricarico admitted to two of the eight shooting incidents. When asked about the one victim who died, officers said Tricarico did not want to talk anymore.
The victim, who officers found in a red Toyota pickup truck in a canal on Loop 101, had a gunshot wound in the left side of his neck, police said.
That victim has been identified by police as a 56-year-old man. His bond was set at $1 million and, if posted, Tricarico can be released under court-given restrictions.
