Log in

2ND-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE

Mesa police arrest suspect in Saturday slaying behind pet store

Posted 1/28/24

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in the shooting death of a man behind a Mesa pet store, police said Sunday.

Jakob Urias has been booked for second-degree murder in the death of a 32-year-old …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor
2ND-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE

Mesa police arrest suspect in Saturday slaying behind pet store

Posted

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in the shooting death of a man behind a Mesa pet store, police said Sunday.

Jakob Urias has been booked for second-degree murder in the death of a 32-year-old man who died at a hospital, according to a release from the Mesa Police Department.

Mesa police received a call about 6 p.m. Jan. 27 about a possible shooting behind Pratt’s Pet Store near 800 S. Alma School Road.

The caller told the 911 operator that an employee of the pet store had been involved in a shooting behind the business, police said.

Officers arrived to find a man on the south side of the strip mall shot. They began lifesaving measures until Mesa Fire Department personnel arrived. The victim did not survive his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Urias, the employe, was found inside the store and detained.

“Through investigation, the detectives learned that Urias was outside the store working when he and two female employees advised the male to leave, as he was trespassing,” the department release stated.

“The male did not immediately leave so the female employees went back into the store and called police to have him removed from the property. While on the phone with 911, the shooting occurred.

“During an interview with detectives, Urias admitted to shooting the man, and a handgun was located at the scene.”

The investigation is still active, and details are subject to change, police said.