A Mesa pet store employee was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after a man was shot and killed in the back of the store Saturday night.
Officers responded to a call reporting a possible shooting near the 800 block of South Alma School Road around 6 p.m. behind Pratt's pet, according to Mesa police.
Police said the caller told police the gunman was an employee of the pet store. Arriving officers found a 32-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds on the south side of the strip mall. Police reported that life-saving measures were performed on the victim before he was taken to the hospital, but he later died.
Officers located the suspect and identified him as 21-year-old Jacob Urias, who was working a watch at the Platts Petz store at the time of the shooting, according to a police report. Officers detained Urias and questioned him.
After further investigation, detectives learned that Urias and two other female employees told the victim that she was trespassing and advised her to leave the back area of the store. Employees realized the victim was intoxicated, went inside and called police, asking them to remove the victim, according to court documents.
Victims of violence:Man who protected friend during Mesa shooting is hailed as a hero by his father
Urias said he was outside taking out the trash when Urias told the victim that police were on their way, and the victim got up from the ground and began aggressively “power walking” towards him. It is said that
Urias said he removed a handgun from his waistband and told the victim he had a gun, according to court records. The victim continued walking toward Urias, and Urias fired his gun three times.
Two other employees reported hearing three gunshots, according to court records. Officers found a semi-automatic handgun at the scene.
Urias was charged with second-degree murder and booked into the Maricopa County Jail, according to police reports.
