Phoenix Police detectives have arrested a young man in an early morning shooting that left a 53-year-old man dead.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, early Saturday at about 1:44 a.m., officers were called to a shooting scene in the parking lot of a business near 2400 East Van Buren Street. Patrol officers located an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. The man was identified as 53-year-old Maurice Stewart and was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Stewart was not able to overcome his injuries at passed away at the hospital.
Patrol officers immediate began to investigate this murder and were able to identify the suspects’ getaway vehicle. While checking known areas in the neighborhood, patrol officers were able to locate the suspects’ vehicle and when attempting to contact 20-year-old Nicholas Rutledge he ran from officers. After a foot chase, officers were able to take Rutledge into custody without further incident.
Detectives responded and took over the investigation learning a verbal argument lead to the violent shooting that took the life of the victim. Detectives later booked Rutledge into jail under booking number G144072 for 1st Degree Murder.