Wind Advisory
from SAT 12:00 PM MST until SAT 10:00 PM MST, Western Pima County including Ajo/Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Tohono O'odham Nation including Sells, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail, South Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho Peak State Park, Southeast Pinal County including Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties including Hannagan Meadow, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains including Mount Graham, Chiricahua Mountains including Chiricahua National Monument, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon, Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount Lemmon/Summerhaven, Baboquivari Mountains including Kitt Peak, Kofa, Central La Paz, Aguila Valley, Southeast Yuma County, Gila River Valley, Northwest Valley, Tonopah Desert, Gila Bend, Buckeye/Avondale, Cave Creek/New River, Deer Valley, Central Phoenix, North Phoenix/Glendale, New River Mesa, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley, Rio Verde/Salt River, East Valley, Fountain Hills/East Mesa, South Mountain/Ahwatukee, Southeast Valley/Queen Creek, Superior, Northwest Pinal County, West Pinal County, Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, Tonto Basin, Mazatzal Mountains, Pinal/Superstition Mountains, Sonoran Desert Natl Monument, San Carlos, Dripping Springs, Globe/Miami, Southeast Gila County

Owner of stolen car in deadly police shooting devastated, car is totaled

As the investigation into a Mesa police shooting continues, FOX 10 is learning more about the stolen car that triggered the deadly confrontation.

The owner of the car says it was stolen from her Mesa apartment complex in September.

The registered owner found out on Oct. 1 that her car was the one involved in a deadly police shooting.

While she didn't want to go on a camera, a relative talked with FOX 10's Nicole Garcia. He says she's devasted and traumatized.

"It meant a lot to her, it was very special."

Before the red sedan became riddled with bullets, it was the pride and joy of the young owner who named it 'Ruby.'

"She had just finished paying it off. She was excited because she just finished paying for it by herself."

The owner reported 'Ruby' stolen on Sept. 4.

"She was on her way to meet a friend at Hobby Lobby and it was gone."

On Sept. 25, Mesa police spotted the car at a restaurant parking lot with a man behind the wheel who was slumped over.

That man was 21-year-old Angel Benitez. He was shot while inside the car during a confrontation with Mesa officers. Ruby's owner found out a week after the killing.

Related

Mesa police fatally shoot man during traffic stop in Tempe

A man was shot and killed by Mesa Police in Tempe after they say he was found behind the wheel of a stolen car on Sept. 25.

"We got a call from police saying they found her car. It was involved in a collision and a shooting and it was totaled. She just started crying. She was shocked and in tears."

He says the car's owner feels she's been victimized twice over.

"She's been crushed by this whole situation. Terrified by everything. She hasn't left her house. Now the fact her car was stolen, she's afraid to get a new car. She's scared it's going to get stolen."

The owner only had liability insurance, and her car is a total loss. She says she doesn't know and has never seen Benitez before.

The shooting is still under investigation and will be turned over to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for review.

Related

Police body camera video released in fatal shooting of man in Tempe

Body camera footage shows the moment before police shot and killed a young man in Tempe. His family says the shooting is unjustified.

Related

Suspect's family calls for transparency from police after deadly confrontation in Mesa

Mesa Police say they were trying to pull over a man who was in a stolen car. Eventually, they confronted him in a parking lot and opened fire. Now his family wants officers to release the body camera footage.