Jury deliberates fate of Yuma man accused of shooting at police
Luis Juarez facing three counts of attempted murder
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The fate of a man accused of opening fire on three Yuma police officers now rests in the hands of a jury.
Luis German Juarez is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder in connection with an August 2018 incident in the vicinity of 22nd Street and Madison Avenue. The Yuma Police Department (YPD) says officers were investigating some gang-related graffiti when two men opened fire on them. YPD returned fire, hitting a 17-year-old suspect. Police later identified the second suspect as Juarez.
In closing arguments Wednesday, Juarez's defense claimed it was too dark on the night of the shooting for the officers to be able to accurate identify the second suspect. Attorneys also cited conflicting statements from the officers on scene, and pointed to a lack of direct evidence. Prosecutors highlighted Juarez's history of gang activity.
KYMA.com will continue to monitor the jury's deliberations. Download our free mobile app, and we'll send you an alert when the panel reaches its decision.
