Man shot, killed in botched drug deal in Phoenix, arrest records say

Court documents reveal that 40-year-old Thomas Draper allegedly shot and killed Jason Sierra during a drug deal gone wrong Monday, and then attempted to destroy evidence linking him to the murder, according to Phoenix Police Department arrest records.

Draper's record includes security camera footage and digital evidence identifying him as the suspect responsible for the death of 24-year-old Sierra , who was shot in the head outside an apartment complex near 43rd Street and McDowell Road, according to court documents from Phoenix police.

Police discovered that the shooting took place in the parking lot of Ocotillo Village Apartments, where they found Sierra with a gunshot wound. He was transported to Valleywise Medical Center, where he died at about 3:30 a.m., according to court documents.

Security camera footage reviewed by police showed a black Toyota 4Runner arriving at the scene and parking before the shooting. Sierra was then seen walking up to the vehicle and sitting in the passenger seat, according to the documents.

Documents show that a brief struggle allegedly occurred between the driver and Sierra before the victim was seen being pushed out of the vehicle and onto the ground. Authorities later found Sierra with a gunshot wound.

On Thursday, Phoenix police arrested Draper after their investigation linked a vehicle registered in his name to the Toyota seen on the security cameras at the scene. Draper was apprehended at his home near McDowell Road and Grand Avenue, approximately 7 miles east of the incident location, according to court documents.

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Police also used data associated with Draper’s phone number to place him near the location of the Toyota captured on security cameras. According to the documents, Draper reportedly bent and broke his phone before his arrest.

Police said that while Draper allegedly arrived at the scene of the shooting with his passenger window intact, he reportedly left the scene with the window gone, likely broken in a manner consistent with gunfire.

Draper was reportedly seen in the days after the shooting with a covering over the passenger window.

Upon his arrest, Draper provided several inconsistent accounts of the events. Initially, he claimed he had lent his vehicle to someone named Jason but later admitted to being present at the area.

Draper said he had tried to buy crack cocaine from the victim, who allegedly pointed a gun at him and demanded money. Draper claimed he then knocked the gun away and pushed the victim out of the vehicle.

Draper denied hearing any gunshots and stated he cleaned his vehicle after the incident, claiming he did not see any blood, according to court documents.

Draper was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence, both felony counts.

Draper was held on a $1,000,000 cash-only bond and was next scheduled to appear in court Aug. 22.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man shot, killed in botched drug deal in Phoenix, arrest records say