Troopers: Drive-by shooting suspect says trio 'hyped up'

One of three men accused in a series of drive-by shootings on Sunday said they started firing at other vehicles because they were "hyped up," troopers said in court documents released Tuesday.

Semaj Devon McFarland, 20, Airen Everrette Randolph, 20, and De'zhon Joseph Randolph, 22, are accused of shooting at three vehicles Sunday but striking only one. No injuries were reported.

All three men were booked into Fourth Avenue Jail on suspicion of drive-by shooting, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, marijuana possession, discharging a firearm and endangerment.

Authorities say the shootings are not related to the string of 11 freeway shootings that kept the Valley on edge in late August and early September.

The first shooting on Sunday happened in Tempe. The reported victim said someone in a black Volkswagen on McClintock Drive and Southern Avenue yelled obscenities and challenged that person to a race. A shot was fired from the Volkswagen after it turned onto the westbound U.S. 60 on-ramp, the Arizona Department of Public Safety indicated in court records.

The second shooting was on westbound Interstate 10 past 35th Avenue. A driver reported hearing a gunshot and observed a flash of light coming from the passenger side of a black Volkswagen, the records show.

Troopers say a vehicle was struck in the third shooting, which occurred on westbound I-10 near 67th Avenue, but no one was injured.

By that time, a Phoenix police helicopter was trained over the suspect vehicle as it left I-10 and parked at an apartment complex on McDowell Road, records show. Troopers say two of the men in the car surrendered, but one man ran into an apartment and closed the door. An earlier statement by the DPS indicated that man was arrested within an hour.

Records show both Airen and De'zhon Randolph initially denied knowledge of the shootings or any involvement. Troopers say Airen later admitted to being the front-seat passenger and De'zhon Randolph admitted to being the driver. Both men reported that McFarland fired all three shots.

Troopers said they found an open half-gallon of vodka in the suspect vehicle, which was registered to McFarland, as well as a large bag containing smaller bags of marijuana.

McFarland told investigators that they were "hyped up" when they started shooting and claimed he only fired the shot that hit the vehicle, records show.