Camp Verde Teen Turns Himself In To YCSO Deputies, Claiming To Have Killed A 62-Year-Old Man

A Camp Verde teenager has turned himself in to Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies after he told them he fatally shot a 62-year-old man the day after Christmas. The 16-year-old male suspect reported that on or about November 28th, he shot the victim and left the body in the wilderness, in a remote area of Camp Verde. Detectives were called out to interview the suspect, who later took the detectives to the area in the desert off Salt Mine Road, where they found a body. The suspect stated that he had contacted the victim, who was known to the suspect’s family, after finding out the man was trying to “get with his 14-year-old sister.” The suspect wanted to confront the victim about those intentions, so he asked the victim to pick him up in Camp Verde under the guise of a hunting trip. The two then drove out to Salt Mine Road where the suspect confronted the victim, subsequently shooting and killing him. The suspect further stated that he took all the guns from the victim’s car before abandoning it and while walking home ditched one of the guns in the desert, which has been retrieved by YCSO. He then took the remaining guns to his home. On Christmas Day a family member went into suspect’s bedroom and found a gun. When confronted, the suspect admitted to his family that he killed the victim, and subsequently turned himself in to deputies the following day. The name of the victim is not yet being released pending positive identification by next of kin. The incident remains under investigation.