2 motorists shot in E. Valley; officials probing link
Christina Leonard
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 19, 2001 09:10:00

Authorities are investigating whether two apparent random drive-by shootings are related.


About 4:30 a.m., a 52-year-old motorist was sitting in her vehicle at the intersection of McDowell and Higley roads in Mesa when another vehicle pulled up about and somebody inside that vehicle began shooting at her, said Detective Tim Gaffney, a police spokesman.

The woman was hit several times by gunfire, but managed to pull up to the gates at the Boeing plant, 5000 E. McDowell Road, and tell a guard what had happened.

The woman was taken by helicopter to Scottsdale Healthcare Memorial Osborn Hospital. Her condition was unknown this morning, but her wounds do not appear life-threatening.

Half an hour earlier, another man was shot while he was driving south on the Beeline Highway.

A gray, newer model Jeep Cherokee with two people inside also was traveling south on the highway when it pulled up next to the victim and began firing, said Detective Bill Knight, a spokesman with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

One round went through the victim's door and hit the motorist in the lower back, Knight said. The victim was able to pull over to a gas station at Fort McDowell Road and Beeline Highway, where he called for help.

The man was taken to Scottsdale Healthcare Memorial Osborn Hospital with a superficial wound, Knight said.

"At this point, both agencies are doing separate investigations," Knight said. "But there are similarities."

Quoted:
..Too bad the AR doesn't conceal as well as the Glock...