36-year-old man claims victim threatened him in Yuma road rage murder case
Eduardo Morales
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – New details Friday on the road rage murder that claimed the life of a Yuma teen.
The probable cause statement KYMA obtained from court reveals the 36-year-old man who was released on scene claimed that 17-year-old Javier Figueroa stepped out of the vehicle allegedly threatening him with a knife.
Officers confirmed that a knife was found at the scene, but no information as to who the knife belonged to.
The man says he and the teen then got into a physical fight, grabbing each other.
Meanwhile, Juan, who is in custody, claims that Javier was hit in the face by the 36-year-old man.
That’s when Juan decided to hit the man with his car, running over his brother Javier in the process.
Figueroa’s father says his son was in shock and was not in the right head space when he spoke to police.
“Well, I think his statement he was just saying what they were telling him…I know that on scene they kept on telling him that he killed his brother, he killed his brother, so he’s in a state of shock,” said Joseph Figueroa, the boys’ father.
Juan Figueroa is still in custody facing first degree murder and attempted murder charges.
On Saturday night, the family will hold a vigil for Javier Figueroa on the corner of 16th Street and Fourth Avenue at 8 p.m.