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Juan Davonte Thomas Cardoza, 21, was arrested Friday, Jan. 31 near 51st Avenue and Camelback Road.
He was identified as one of four suspects inside a vehicle the Arizona Department of Public Safety pursued during an investigation Thursday. According to court documents, undercover officers with the state’s gang task force tried to purchase firearms from an unknown suspect in the parking lot of the Walmart near 95th Avenue and Camelback Road.
Around 5:25 p.m., a gray Jeep SUV arrived in the area. One of the undercover officers approached the vehicle and gave the driver $1,000. He then heard what sounded like two guns chambering rounds, followed by two backseat passengers pointing firearms at the officer.
The suspects told the officer to get back and not do anything. The vehicle then fled through the parking lot at a high rate of speed, records state.
DPS followed the vehicle until it stopped near 91st and Montebello avenues. DPS said one of the suspects pointed a firearm at a detective, followed by the driver ramming a patrol vehicle. The detective responded by shooting multiple rounds at the vehicle, striking at least one suspect.
The vehicle fled the area but was located nearby. DPS said it had been reported stolen out of Glendale during a home invasion Jan. 28.
A witness led DPS to the backyard of a home, where one of the suspects was injured from a gunshot wound and laying on the ground. He was identified in court documents as a 16-year-old male. Court records state that a DPS K-9 bit the suspect on his left arm and pulled him from his stomach to his back. DPS located a firearm in his possession, records state. The teen was then taken to a hospital, where he remained in critical condition as of Friday.
Detectives continued searching the area for the other suspects, but to no avail. However, DPS was able to identify one of the suspects as Mr. Cardoza. On Jan. 31, they conducted surveillance at his apartment in west Phoenix. Mr. Cardoza was later arrested during a traffic stop.
He denied involvement in the robbery.
Authorities found marijuana, money and six firearms at his residence.
DPS continues to investigate the incident, with spokesman Raul Garcia on Monday, Feb. 3 saying that they are looking at a few more days before publicly releasing any other details.
Mr. Cardoza was jailed in lieu of a $200,000 cash-only bond. He faces charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, misconduct involving weapons, and drug possession.
