NewsSoutheast Valley NewsTempe News

Actions

PD: Man shot and killed after stopping to help car crash victim in Tempe

Good Samaritan shooting in Tempe
Tempe shooting 5-8-20
Posted at 9:34 PM, May 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-14 07:31:07-04

TEMPE — Police say a good Samaritan was shot and killed after stopping at a car crash scene in Tempe Friday evening.

Officers were called to the scene near Scottsdale Road, just north of Rio Salado Parkway around 5:30 p.m.

According to police, 22-year-old Joseph Delegge stopped to help the victim of a hit-and-run after witnessing a crash.

The suspect's vehicle was disabled after the crash and all five occupants reportedly fled on foot.

Delegge and the crash victim found three of the five occupants in a nearby parking lot.

Delegge pulled out a gun and told the three people to sit and wait until police arrived.

Moments later, 17 year-old Antonio Misquez, who was believed to be involved in the crash, arrived and shot Delegge in the face. Police say Delegge's handgun was in his waistband when he was shot and killed.

The group of juveniles fled the area but were later located by police. Misquez reportedly threw a backpack containing the gun into Tempe Town Lake but it was later located.

According to DeLegge's dad, Joey DeLegge hated injustice, and had an affinity to help people.

"Joey's always helped people. If these people knew that he just had good intentions in his mind," said Louis DeLegge, Joey's father. DeLegge had 17 brothers and sisters.

"Joey had an amazing love for animals. He rescued numerous birds, dogs, and even rehabilitated an abandoned baby pup seal once," wrote family friend David Treptow.

Misquez is being charged as an adult, police say. He was arrested for second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, minor in possession of a weapon, possession of marijuana, possession of a narcotic, and hit-and-run.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with costs to bring DeLegge's body back to Carlsbad, California, where his family lives, to be laid to rest.