Suspect in freeway shootings appears in court

The man arrested in the Phoenix freeway shootings told a judge during his first court appearance that authorities have “the wrong guy.”

The judge set bail at $1 million for Leslie Allen Merritt Jr. after a prosecutor said he presents a danger to the community.

Merritt, a 21-year-old landscaper, then asked the judge if he could speak. After the judge warned him that anything he says could be used against him, Merritt said he’s not the shooter and that he had no access to his gun because it’s been in a pawn shop for two months.

Police say he shot four cars on Aug. 29 and 30 on Interstate 10 in Phoenix and they have forensic evidence linking his gun to the shootings.