Man Arrested After Violently Killing East Mesa Man

Mesa Police Officers arrested 61-year-old John Lagana after he used his vehicle to run over and kill a man in east Mesa. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene and was identified as 63-year-old Christopher Heimer.

On August 12, 2022, just after 12:30 p.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to the area of 6400 E. Alder Mesa, AZ for multiple reports of someone intentionally using their vehicle to run over another person. A witness used their own firearm and shot a round into the ground, preventing 61-year-old John Lagana from leaving the area and allowing officers to take him into custody immediately when they arrived. 

After speaking with numerous witnesses and reviewing video surveillance cameras, officers learned that 63-year-old Christopher Heimer was walking westbound on Alder at the same time Lagana was driving eastbound on Alder. Lagana swerved out of the roadway and struck Heimer as he was walking on the north sidewalk, throwing him into the landscaping of a fourplex apartment complex. Lagana continued to travel eastbound on the sidewalk, damaging mailboxes and landscaping before turning around and driving back toward Heimer. Witnesses say Lagana again drove onto the sidewalk, into the landscaping and ran over Heimer, who was already lying injured on the ground. Lagana then got out of his vehicle and proceeded to stomp on Heimer’s head multiple times. This is when one witness used their firearm to put an end to Lagana’s actions.

Witnesses further told officers that Lagana was parked in a vacant lot, just northwest of Heimer’s residence, and that Lagana honked his horn repeatedly, until Heimer came out of his home. Observations on scene showed where Lagana accelerated through the empty lot onto the street. Officers also found skid marks from Lagana’s vehicle in the roadway and on the sidewalk where the incident occurred.

Lagana was booked into jail for the following charges and held on a $2,000,000 bond:

ARS 13-1105A1; 1^st Degree Murder, a class 1 felony

John Lagana Mug Shot