News

Actions

Leslie Merritt's attorney says DPS re-interviewing witnesses 1 day after lawsuit

Posted at 10:06 PM, Sep 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-16 01:30:17-04

Leslie Merritt Jr.'s attorney says the Arizona Department of Public Safety is re-interviewing witnesses in the case, just a day after Merritt sued the state of Arizona. 

Jason Lamm, Merritt's lawyer, said two people, including Merritt, told him DPS detectives are trying to contact and re-interview witnesses who had provided alibis for Merritt during the ongoing investigation of the freeway shootings. 

They told Lamm detectives had questions regard the three shootings which happened on Saturday, August 29. 

RELATED: Phoenix freeway shooting suspect Leslie Merritt Jr. talks to ABC15

Lamm released a statement which read in part: 

"We, as Mr. Merritt's attorneys, do not view this as a coincidence given our announcement just yesterday of Mr. Merritt having filed suit against State and County officials."

When reached for comment, DPS said they cannot release any information as the investigation is open and active. 

The Valley was plagued by several shootings that happened over the span of two months. Merritt was arrested on September 18th and officials claimed he was the shooter behind the gun. Charges were eventually dropped against him. 

Merritt's lawsuit claims malicious prosecution; the dollar amount being sought in the suit has not been released yet.