Armando Hernandez, Jr. told police he wanted to shoot 10 people when he opened fire at Westgate Entertainment District in May, according to a police report released Thursday. 

During a police interview following the shooting, he recounted how he never actually wanted to kill anyone as he strode through the open-air mall on a hot Arizona evening, carrying an AR-15 in one hand and his phone in the other.

He insisted to police that his motivations were always about respect, according to the Glendale police report provided to The Arizona Republic on Thursday in response to a public-records request. The report was released along with photos, videos and other documentation from the shooting and resulting investigation.

Hernandez was set off by couples close to his own age – he was 20 at the time of the shooting –  sitting outside the movie theatre, the report detailed. He described himself as an “incel,” and told police he defined the term as “someone who cannot get attention or relationships from other people”. 

He considered carrying out a shooting many times before, but he admitted to police that he let his “dark side” get the best of him that day. It was that dark side that sent him to Westgate to locate “targets.” 

According to the police report, he said quickly found them and returned to his Audi parked outside the mall. Hernandez grabbed his gun, drank some beer and posted a video announcing his names and intentions.

Then, he headed back into the mall, armed with his gun and smartphone. Police say he then opened fire outside a Johnny Rockets restaurant, striking a woman in the leg and a man in the chest.

He then shot another woman in the parking lot, the report details. He filmed the second encounter on his phone before posting it on Snapchat as the woman laid on the asphalt, begging for her life. He told her she was lucky he was going to let her live before his gun jammed.

He intended to shoot more couples around his own age — at least 10 people was the plan. He planned to aim for legs and never the head as his intent wasn’t to kill.

Hernandez surrendered to police soon after. The three victims survived the shooting.

The nearly 250-page police report, surveillance video, recorded interviews and hours of other footage released Thursday provide a glimpse into the chaos during the shooting and the hours after. 

A grand jury indicted Hernandez on 39 counts, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder, 10 counts of aggravated assault, 15 counts of disorderly conduct and numerous others.

Hernandez, who is now 21, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case is currently scheduled to go to trial in early 2021. 

The Arizona Republic continues to review all of the released materials on Thursday afternoon. 

This is a developing story. Check azcentral.com for updates. 

Reach public safety reporter Bree Burkitt at [email protected] or at 602-444-8515. Follow her on Twitter at @breeburkitt.

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