A bizarre clue helped police crack a dangerous road rage shooting — and it all came down to a Hello Kitty sticker.
Authorities in Tucson say they were able to track down a suspect after two teenage girls were shot during a terrifying encounter on March 14 near Golf Links and Kolb roads.
The suspect, 29-year-old David Anthony Cedeno, has since been arrested and booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Center. He’s now facing 10 criminal charges, with bond set at $75,000.
According to police, the shooting unfolded after a tense moment on the road. The two teens told investigators they were trying to switch lanes when a vehicle allegedly driven by Cedeno cut them off.
They ended up behind the car — and that’s when they noticed something unusual: a Hello Kitty sticker on the back windshield, along with a custom license plate.
Moments later, both vehicles turned onto Golf Links and pulled up side by side.
That’s when things took a violent turn.
The teens say they saw Cedeno holding a handgun — and then heard gunfire. Both girls were struck in the leg during the shooting.
Investigators later used the unique details about the vehicle — including that Hello Kitty sticker — to help identify and locate the suspect.
When officers arrived at Cedeno’s home, they made another discovery. A woman inside the residence allegedly admitted she had removed the Hello Kitty sticker from the car after the shooting in an apparent attempt to cover up what happened.
Police say the woman had been in the car during the incident and told investigators she never saw or heard anything suggesting the teens had a weapon.
Cedeno, however, reportedly claimed he fired after hearing gunshots coming from the other vehicle.
In court, prosecutors painted a troubling picture.
They argued that Cedeno showed a willingness to fire into a fully occupied car during a road rage incident — and then tried to hide his involvement afterward.
He now faces multiple serious charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, drive-by shooting, and discharging a firearm at an occupied vehicle.