AVONDALE — Police say a suspect in numerous robberies shot and killed himself as officers who had been tailing him tried to pull over the SUV he was driving.
Police said Marco Antonio Villarino, 29, killed himself about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in Avondale.
Mesa police Detective Chris Arvayo said Villarino was suspected of being the ringleader in a number of check-cashing-store robberies in 2004 and 2005.
The robbers in the incidents had gas cans and threatened to set clerks on fire if they didn't comply.
He was also a suspect in four grocery-store robberies this year during which the victims were bound with zip-ties.
