Phoenix Police have arrested 47-year-old Gary Cole Jr., a suspect in a double shooting on January 15, 2024, near Black Canyon Highway and Hazelwood Street that killed 62-year-old Willie Earl Dodd and injured a woman, FOX 10 Phoenix reported. The case remained unsolved for nearly two years.
Authorities arrested Gary Cole Jr. on Tuesday, and he now faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, AZ Family reported. Investigators have not disclosed how or where he was apprehended, but the arrest represents a major development in the nearly two-year-old case.
After the shooting, 62-year-old Willie Earl Dodd died from his injuries, and a woman with non-life-threatening injuries recovered. Silent Witness had offered a reward for information, though it’s unclear if this contributed to Cole Jr.’s arrest.
The Phoenix Police Department has not released details about what led to the shooting. Cole Jr. has been booked on additional charges, including tampering with evidence, discharging a firearm within city limits, and violating probation, nearly two years after the crime occurred.
