Media Release - Homicide Over Holiday Weekend

A suspect has been arrested in a homicide investigation that began Sunday, August 31, 2014 in the 300 block of East Vine Circle. Ignacio Eide Lomeli Jr., 23, (photo) has been booked for Second Degree Murder. The victim has not yet been positively identified. His identification is pending further investigation by the Mesa Police Department.

Detectives working the case learned that Lomeli was visiting family at this location and preparing for a weekend barbecue. The victim drove into the parking lot in his vehicle and parked near where Lomeli and his family. Lomeli told detectives he felt threatened by the victim and approached him with a gun in his waistband. Brief words were exchanged between them before Lomeli pulled the gun from his waistband and shot the victim at close range as he sat in his vehicle. The victim died instantly.

Lomeli and the victim did not know each other and Lomeli claimed he shot the victim in self-defense. Lomeli told investigators he saw what he believed to be a weapon in the victim's hands and felt threatened. No weapon was located on or near the victim's body.

Lomeli has been charged with one count Second Degree Murder C1F, one count Misconduct Involving Weapons C4F and one count Tampering with Evidence C6F.