PHOENIX — A months-long investigation into a shooting that killed a 16-year-old boy in Mesa has culminated in the arrest of three suspects as of Friday.
According to the Mesa Police Department, Bre’on Ballard was taken into custody last week in California, while Nikko Cartier and Jameeier White were arrested on Friday. At the time of the incident, Ballard and Cartier were 18 years old, and White was 19.
The shooting occurred on May 21 around 10 p.m. at an apartment complex near the intersection of Val Vista Drive and U.S. 60. On that day, two victims were found at the apartment complex with gunshot wounds and were taken to a nearby hospital. Tragically, 16-year-old Azriel Lloyd was pronounced dead.
In the early stages of the investigation, Ballard, Cartier, and White were all persons of interest. However, officers needed to gather additional evidence before filing charges. Over the past six months, the investigation involved numerous interviews, search warrants, forensic analyses, and testing. This extensive work provided sufficient evidence for the police to proceed with the arrests.
The investigation spanned multiple locations within Mesa and other cities in the Phoenix area. During the operation, several firearms were recovered.
All three suspects have been charged with first-degree murder and are currently being held on a $2 million bond.
https://ktar.com/arizona-news/shooting-arrests/5777151/