text: FILE - This Nov. 16, 2015 file photo suspected Phoenix freeway shooter Leslie Allen Merritt Jr., right, talks with his attorney Ulises Ferragut during a motion to modify his release at Superior Court... (Associated Press) 
   
   FILE - This Nov. 16, 2015 file photo suspected Phoenix freeway shooter Leslie Allen Merritt Jr., right, talks with his attorney Ulises Ferragut during a motion to modify his release at Superior Court... (Associated Press) 
   
   PHOENIX (AP) — A judge on Tuesday allowed a man charged in freeway shootings that rattled Phoenix last year to be released from jail amid questions about evidence authorities say links him to the crimes. 
   
   The judge overseeing the case of Leslie Merritt Jr. reduced his bond to zero and said he can return to his home under electronic monitoring. He was expected to be released later in the day. 
   
   The reduction of the bond — once $1 million — was a major victory as defense lawyers contend that ballistic tests cast doubt on the claim by authorities that Merritt was behind four of the freeway shootings. 
   
   "With all due respect your honor, there's no evidence against him to show he's responsible for this," defense lawyer Jason Lamm said. "He is no more the I-10 shooter than, respectfully, you are." 
   
   Merritt lifted up his shackled arms in celebration as he walked from the courtroom. After the hearing, family members hugged and shook the hands of defense lawyers. 
   
   Merritt has pleaded not guilty to drive-by shooting, aggravated assault and other charges. 
   
   Judge Warren Granville has imposed a gag order on lawyers in the case. As a result, lawyers said they could not discuss the evidence that prompted the shift in bond. 
   
   Arizona Department of Public Safety officials declined to comment, citing the gag order. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office did not immediately return requests for comment. 
   
   Lamm told a crowd of reporters outside the courtroom that Merritt was elated and overwhelmed. 
   
   "Our client was branded public enemy No. 1, he was called a domestic terrorist and he's been in jail in solitary confinement for seven months. Our reaction? We're thrilled," Lamm said. 
   
   The shootings caused panic on Phoenix-area freeways, where 11 vehicles were hit in August and September. The head of the Department of Public Safety said the shootings were the work of a domestic terrorist, and authorities heightened patrols and surveillance in pursuit of a suspect. 
   
   Detectives took Merritt into custody on Sept. 18, prompting Gov. Doug Ducey to declare "We got him!" on Twitter five minutes after the arrest. 
   
   In court the next day, Merritt adamantly denied shooting any cars, telling the judge, "I'm the wrong guy." 
   
   His lawyers immediately began raising questions about the evidence, citing ballistics information and phone records they say provided an alibi for their client. 
   
   They also pointed to road rage shootings that happened on Phoenix-area freeways after Merritt was arrested, saying the cases were proof that the culprit was still out there. 
   
   Granville set a May 18 court date and told Merritt that it's important for him to show up. 
   
   "I'll be here sir," Merritt said. ||||| BROOKSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Authorities say a driver suspected of firing a gun at motorists on an Alabama highway and exchanging gunfire with officers has been killed. 
   
   Alabama State Troopers say the ordeal began around 7 a.m. Tuesday in Blount County, where 911 dispatchers got word that someone was opening fire on motorists on U.S. 278. They say they found a vehicle matching the description around 8:15 a.m. on another highway, and the driver fled from officers, touching off a pursuit. 
   
   Authorities say the vehicle crashed, and the driver exchanged gunfire with law officers. He was later pronounced dead. 
   
   The suspect's name wasn't released, nor was the officer's. No other details, such as the race of the suspect or the officer, were immediately released. 
   
   Blount County is about 45 miles northeast of Birmingham.
target: – A judge on Tuesday allowed a man charged in freeway shootings that rattled Phoenix last year to be released from jail amid questions about evidence authorities say links him to the crimes. The judge overseeing the case of Leslie Merritt Jr. reduced his bond to zero and said he can return to his home under electronic monitoring, the AP reports. He was expected to be released later in the day. The reduction of the bond—once $1 million—was a major victory as defense lawyers contend that ballistic tests cast doubt on the claim by authorities that Merritt was behind four of the freeway shootings. "With all due respect your honor, there's no evidence against him to show he's responsible for this," defense lawyer Jason Lamm said. "He is no more the I-10 shooter than, respectfully, you are." Merritt lifted up his shackled arms in celebration as he walked from the courtroom. After the hearing, family members hugged and shook the hands of defense lawyers. Merritt has pleaded not guilty to drive-by shooting, aggravated assault, and other charges. The shootings caused panic on Phoenix-area freeways, where 11 vehicles were hit in August and September. Detectives took Merritt into custody on Sept. 18; in court the next day, Merritt adamantly denied shooting any cars, telling the judge, "I'm the wrong guy." His lawyers immediately began raising questions about the evidence, citing ballistics information and phone records they say provided an alibi for their client. (Also Tuesday, a motorist suspected of shooting at other vehicles on an Alabama highway died after a shootout with officers.)