Overview
- Phoenix police arrested 43-year-old Joe Gerardo in Globe on Nov. 3 and booked him into a Maricopa County jail on an accusation of first-degree murder.
- The charge stems from the Nov. 29, 2013 death of 59-year-old Jeffrey Bellemare, who was shot while working an overnight security shift at a Maryvale apartment complex.
- Homicide cold-case detectives said they received new information this year that led to identifying a suspect but they have not described what that information was.
- Bellemare’s family has long said he seemed to be targeted and relatives point to witnesses who reported the shooter saying, “This is what you deserve” before the attack.
- Formal charging documents and an arraignment date have not been released, so prosecutorial steps, evidentiary details and any motive remain pending while media seek court records.