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PD: 18-year-old arrested in deadly Phoenix shooting

Posted at 5:34 AM, May 04, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-04 13:38:11-04

PHOENIX — An arrest has been made after a man was found dead in a Phoenix neighborhood early Sunday morning.

Officers were sent to an “unknown trouble” call in an area north of Northern Avenue, along 41st Avenue, around 3 a.m. on May 3.

The body of 31-year-old Felipe Villanueva was located at the scene.

Investigators learned that Villanueva and 18-year-old Jacob Soto had gotten into an altercation in an alley. During the fight, Soto shot Villanueva, causing fatal injuries.

According to police documents, the victim claimed to be a gang member.

Soto and three others were in the group at the time and followed the victim, who had been calling them names, into an alley. Soto was then seen firing a black handgun at the victim, police say.

One of the people in the group ran home, while the others fled the scene in a vehicle.

Soto was arrested and taken into custody on charges of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence and weapons misconduct.

Police say Soto admitted to his involvement in the homicide. Soto was interviewed by police and said he thought he saw a gun on the victim and shot the victim three times.