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Teen arrested in New Year’s Day Tempe homicide
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Rickey Wooley
Tempe detectives arrested a teenager Tuesday in connection with a New Year’s Day fatal shooting.
Rickey Baby Wooley, who just turned 18, was booked on suspicion of first-degree murder, assisting a criminal street gang and four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, said officer Brandon Banks, Tempe police spokesman.
The 1:09 a.m. death of Corey Washington, 25, was the first homicide of the year in the state.
Banks said the incident began as an altercation at a bar on Third Street.
Wooley was walking near Third Street and Farmer Avenue when Washington, who was driving, pulled alongside him in a car with four other passengers.
Banks said people in the car were taunting Wooley and he fired his gun, striking Washington and a passenger who survived his wound.
The car crashed at Fifth Street and Farmer Avenue.
“This is definitely gang-related,” Banks said.
Banks said it was a difficult investigation because witnesses, victims and suspects weren’t cooperative.
Wooley is on two years’ probation from an October conviction on charges of endangerment, misdemeanor marijuana possession and misdemeanor drunken driving.
According to court records, Wooley’s first arrest came when he was 9 years old, and he was referred to juvenile court 12 times on charges of assault, auto theft, criminal damage and disorderly conduct.
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