Juvenile Arrested for Murder in Mesa
Mesa,
AZ – (February 9th, 2023) On
02/08/2023, 16-year-old Armando Medina was arrested for a murder that took
place on 02/05/2023 at 1230 N Mesa Drive. The victim was identified as 24-year-old
Marquis Johnson.
On 02/05/2023 at around 9:40pm, The Mesa Police Department
received several calls of “shots fired” in the area of 1230 N Mesa Drive. As
officers were responding, additional information was received that there was a
male, later identified as Marquis Johnson, down in the parking lot. Officers
arrived and located Johnson suffering from gunshot wounds. Medical personnel
responded but Johnson was pronounced deceased at the scene at 10:05pm.
Officers learned that Johnson and a friend were at the
corner of Mesa Drive and Brown when they thought they heard a gunshot. Three
males and a female then appeared on the sidewalk close to where they heard the
possible gunshot and began walking towards them. Words were exchanged between Johnson
and the group which led to a physical fight. When Johnson’s friend tried to
help him, a male later identified as Armando Medina, pointed a gun at both
Johnson and the friend. The group left northbound with Johnson and the friend
behind them. When they reached 1230 N Mesa Drive, Medina turned around and
fired several shots, striking Johnson.
Detectives were able to identify Medina and the female who
was with him that night. Through their investigation, officers were led to an
area where they believed the males may live or frequent. Yesterday, officers
spotted three males in the area where the shooting took place. They identified
Armando as one of the males in this group and detained all three. After
interviewing the three males, Medina was arrested for one count
of 2nd degree murder, aggravated assault, and being under 18 and in
possession of a firearm.
The investigation
could have not come to a swift conclusion without the help of both Mesa and
Gilbert Police officers. Information that was vital to the arrest of Medina
came from officers who took the extra time to help identify Medina and the
female he was with that night.
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