MESA, AZ – An employee at Pratt’s Pets in Mesa is now in custody, facing charges of second-degree murder. According to police, he fired shots at a person accused of trespassing on the property.
Police received reports of a shooting incident behind the pet store at the intersection of Alma School Road and 8th Avenue at approximately 6 p.m. on Jan 27. Upon their arrival, officers discovered an injured 32-year-old male. Although rushed to the hospital, he failed to survive.
Based on the gathered evidence, this incident transpired when Jakob Urias, a 21-year-old employee, spotted the man on the store premises.
Urias, supported by two female co-workers, asked the man to vacate the area. However, his lack of immediate response led the female employees to seek police aid for the man’s removal. The shooting occurred in the duration when one of them was on the line with 911.
The officers on the scene located the victim, who lost his battle for life in the hospital. Upon questioning, Urias confessed to his actions, and the gun he used was found at the scene.
After his arrest, Urias was processed into a local jail, with a suspicion of second-degree murder leveled against him.