U.S. Marshals have arrested an eighth suspect in Chicago believed to be connected to the July shooting death of Chandler undercover Detective Carlos Ledesma.
Anthony Jerome Wright, 39, was arrested without incident outside a Walgreens drugstore in Chicago, according to Thomas Henman, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshal's Office in Phoenix. Agents had observed Wright entering and leaving a residence, and then followed Wright, who was traveling with a woman, to the Walgreens. They apprehended him after he got out of his car, Henman said.
Agents had tracked Wright to various locations in the last three months, including the Virgin Islands, Henman said.
Wright is facing murder and drug-related charges in connection to Ledesma's death. Ledesma was shot multiple times inside a south Phoenix residence near Baseline Road and 19th Avenue on July 28 during a staged drug deal gone wrong, according to Chandler police. Ledesma later was pronounced dead at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix.
Two other officers were injured and two suspects were shot and killed during the shootout in which drug dealers had planned to rip off $250,000 worth of marijuana.
Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley sought the death penalty in the case last month in Maricopa County Superior Court, requesting that Darnell Jackson, 36, and Eldridge Gittens, 34, be sentenced to death.
Romley's office also requested a 60-day continuance in the court proceedings so lab work in the case can be completed and submitted to the county attorney's Capital Review Committee to determine whether it will seek the death penalty against Jerry Wayne Cockhearn, 26, a third defendant charged in the case.
Carolyn posted at 4:32 pm on Wed, Nov 3, 2010.
While I don't believe in the death penalty, ALL of these defendants should be locked up forever, doing hard time. They have no business ever associating again with decent people.
Hotcopone posted at 2:44 pm on Thu, Nov 4, 2010.
While I do believe in the Death Penalty, they should be put to death by a firing squad. Basically the same way they took this officers life and injured two others.
And he should be shot in the head ..... Why should we have to pay 40k a year each to keep them in prison and that cost consistently rises each year. Rid the earth of this scum while we can and lets save money doing it.
modaddy posted at 1:11 pm on Thu, Sep 8, 2011.
thats not fair to just write the defendants off as guilty. we are in the united states of america. this case could be much more complex than just some guys shooting cops. i dont know if u know but, all cops are not the nicest or fairest or even professional. there are some believe it or not, in your own departments that are as crooked as can be, if you dont know any you might be the one they know.. had we for got that these men are innocent until proven guily? or are we going to be in the fantisy world of all cops are fair and just and say they are all guilty until proven innocent? and if so: (found innocent) what about the other nonlaw enforcements that was killed in the shoot out, will u still be quick to ask for the death penalty to the cops that took the life of the other innocent young men? so dont be so quick to pass judgement. wait for all to come out in the wash and then make a clear opinion acording to the facts. i would hate to have the someone on mine or anyone elses jury with the same mind frame as the other two that commented. remember things are not what they always appear. the cup could be half full. just let the waiter finish fillig it up. peace