PHOENIX — A man has been booked into jail on murder and arson charges connected to a deadly shooting in north Tempe last month, authorities announced Monday.
Blaine Blystone, 39, is accused of shooting and killing Gustavo Gonzales, 38, on Sept. 26, before allegedly shooting himself and setting his apartment on fire, according to the Tempe Police Department.
He was booked into jail on Monday on charges of first-degree murder, arson, discharge of a firearm at a nonresidential structure and unlawful discharge.
Blystone is being held on a $1 million bond.
Details of deadly shooting, arson in Tempe
Around 3 p.m. on Sept. 26, Gonzales got into his car at the Camden Tempe apartment complex near Scottsdale and Curry roads when Blystone allegedly began shooting at him, according to police.
Blystone was inside his apartment at the time of the shooting, police added.
Neighbors called 911 after hearing the shooting and seeing Gonzales in his car.
When officers got to the apartment complex, they found Gonzales seriously injured inside the car.
He was taken to a nearby hospital and later died.
Blystone then allegedly set fire to his own apartment and shot himself in the stomach.
Police said officers found Blystone as he was leaving the apartment.
He originally told officers that people he did not know shot him and set his apartment on fire, but Tempe police said evidence found at the scene of the shooting connected him to both crimes.
After undergoing surgery for his injuries, Blystone admitted to the shooting, saying he did not know Gonzales, but targeted him, according to Tempe police.
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