DPS cops close freeway for several hours so they can look for bullet casings causing massive traffic jams in phoenix Original Article I-10 gunfight snarls traffic, delays thousands By Garin Groff, Tribune Bullets flew during a suspected gang fight on a freeway, sending one man to the hospital and causing massive backups on Interstate 10 and other roads. Tens of thousands of motorists were stuck in traffic jams just after the morning rush hour as a police investigation closed westbound I-10 near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for five hours. Drivers found traffic slowed to a crawl on I-10 as far back as Chandler Boulevard and on U.S. 60 into Mesa. Other freeways and roads suffered, too, while police scoured Interstate 10 for bullets on the freeway and in two cars. "Normally, we keep a lane open but we were looking for shell casings on the road," said Steve Volden, an officer with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. "Thats why we had to shut it all down." The fight involved occupants of two cars. The shooter got away in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo after a passenger in the car shot the driver of a Chevrolet Malibu, and also fired into the taillight of a sport utility vehicle. Police said other drivers caught in the gunfight were lucky. "Theres a lot of innocent people around who could have gotten hurt," Phoenix Sgt. Doug Engelking said. The only injury was to the driver of the Malibu, Jesus Alvarez, a 19-year-old Phoenix resident shot in the chest. The wound was not life threatening, Engelking said. The shootout began as a dispute before 9 a.m., on 40th Street near Broadway Road. The Monte Carlo driver chased after the Malibu at that intersection, said Cliff Neff, an Avondale resident who at the time was stopped on 40th Street, waiting to turn onto I-10. Neff watched for the cars in his rear-view mirror as he got on the freeway. He didnt see them until he approached 24th Street. They swerved and soon were in front of Neffs Honda CRV. On Neff s left was the Monte Carlo and its heavily tinted windows. He saw someones arm emerge from the front passenger side, gun in hand. Three shots flew across Neffs field of vision. "I was thinking I was going to die," Neff said. The bullets struck the Malibu. It crashed into a concrete barrier on the side of the freeway. In the commotion, a sedan struck a Coca-Cola tractor-trailer and smashed into the barrier. Those drivers werent seriously injured. Neff only saw a gunman fire from the Monte Carlo, but Engelking said other witnesses reported shots from the Malibu as well. Police found a fully loaded revolver in the Malibu, Engelking said, adding they dont think it had been fired. Alvarez told police he is a former gang member who knew the shooter, Engelking said. Police werent able to obtain much more information from Alvarez. "Hes evasive," Engelking said. "Hes not being very cooperative because we think he shot back." Police are trying to find the Monte Carlo, Engelking said. Neff and other witnesses werent sure whether the Monte Carlo continued on I-10 or switched to I-17. As police investigated that freeway section and interviewed Neff, he discovered a bullet had torn a hole in the drivers side tail light. The slug burrowed a hole directly toward where Neff sits. "If it went in another 3 inches higher, it could have been in the back of my head," Neff said. Contact Garin Groff by email, or phone (480) 898-6554