PHOENIX — The 17-year-old suspect accused of opening fire on a DPS trooper last week is being charged as an adult.
Luis German Espinoza Acuna, 17, faces three charges, including Attempted First Degree Murder of a Peace Officer.
The teen is accused of getting out of a vehicle and opening fire on a DPS trooper near 37th Avenue and Portland Street last week. The DPS trooper was in uniform but in an unmarked vehicle and fired back, according to the Department of Public Safety. No one was hit by any of the gunfire. A second suspect drove away and has not been located. The vehicle has previously been described as a silver Infinity G37 with custom wheels.
According to court documents, the teen suspect lived very close to the shooting scene. On Thursday, DPS told ABC15 they are actively searching for the suspect and suspect vehicle. An exact motive for the shooting remains unclear.
Meanwhile, ABC15 has learned more about the teen suspect. An Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Spokesperson sent ABC15 the following statement:
“On Sept. 17, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer on Luis German Espinoza-Acuna, an unlawfully present citizen of Mexico, following his arrest by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. ICE will seek to take Mr. Espinoza-Acuna into custody if and when he is released by local authorities in order to pursue appropriate administrative enforcement action.”
