Man convicted in attempted murder is charged in Mesa fatal shooting
A man is jailed in a deadly shooting outside a Mesa bar, which court documents say was retaliation for money owed to the suspect’s girlfriend.
Darren Wayne Harper Jr., 35, of Peoria, is charged with second-degree murder on suspicion of gunning down Al-Hajjii Brooks, 42, on Sunday, according to court records. Harper is also charged with possession of a weapon by a prohibited person.
Court documents reveal that just before 7 p.m., officers in the area who heard gunshots and screaming from Mesa Drummer Bar & Grill, located at 1211 N. Country Club Drive, found bar patrons in the parking lot and were directed to a shooting victim lying on the ground with two gunshot wounds to his chest. The victim died at the scene, court documents said.
Detectives recovered two fired 10 mm casings with a fired projectile, according to court documents.
Witnesses and surveillance video pointed to Harper as the assailant following an argument, charging documents state. According to one witness, court documents state, Brooks and a woman argued over money he supposedly owed her.
A man, later said to be Harper, is seen on surveillance footage confronting Brooks at his car, court documents show. Surveillance footage captures the woman grabbing a gun and handing it to Harper who then shoots several times at Brooks as she watches before the pair drive off, charging documents reveal.
An anonymous tipster informed police about Harper and the woman, which led to the license plate identification of a black 2007 Mercury Milan as the suspect’s vehicle, according to court documents. This tipster told police Harper shot Brooks several times before fleeing. The tipster also said that the woman is the suspect’s girlfriend and that she and the victim argued over money he owed her over “pills,” according to charging documents.
Witnesses presented with a photo lineup positively identified Harper as the person who fatally shot Brooks, court documents show.
Police watched Harper outside his Peoria home walking from the Mercury Milan dressed just as he was the night of the shooting, according to witness description and surveillance video, charging documents reveal.
On Wednesday during police interrogation, Harper admitted to being at the Mesa Drummer Bar & Grill with his girlfriend and the Mercury Milan, charging documents show. Harper admitted to there being a brief dispute over money Brooks owed his girlfriend, but he denied shooting the victim, according to court documents.
As of Friday afternoon, Harper was in custody on a $50,000 bond, according to jail and court records. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, according to court records.
Harper was previously convicted of attempted murder in Nevada, according to Mesa police spokesman Detective Richard Encinas.
Court documents show Harper has also previously been convicted of unlawful discharge of a firearm, mayhem with a deadly weapon and domestic violence assault, court records show.
As of Friday, Harper’s girlfriend had not been charged with a crime, Encinas said. It is unclear in charging documents how much money was being disputed between Brooks and Harper’s girlfriend.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Darren Wayne Harper Jr. charged in fatal shooting of Al-Hajjii Brooks
