Man fatally shot 2 people at random at Arizona bus stop, police say
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Police have arrested a man accused of fatally shooting two men at random at a bus stop in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, authorities said Tuesday.
Dominic Celaya, 26, was booked into jail Monday on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm.
According to charging documents, Celaya’s girlfriend told police the couple got into an argument that afternoon while in the car. He got out of the car, walked across the street and fired shots into the air, police said.
Several witnesses say that is when they saw him shoot two men at the bus stop.
Responding officers found the two victims, 69-year-old Richard Hodakievic and 24-year-old Jaquey James. They each had been struck between two and three times, the charging documents said. Both were pronounced dead at the hospital.
Celaya fled on foot into an apartment complex and jumped a wall but a police canine located him, police said. A handgun was recovered from his backpack.
Investigators say there is no indication that the suspect knew either victim.
In a police interview, Celaya denied firing a gun and said he could not remember anything about the incident.
It was not known if Celaya had an attorney. A staff member with the Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender said Celaya is not listed as a client but it could be because it has only been a day since his arrest.
The shooting comes almost a week after a church leader was shot while preaching at the corner of another Glendale intersection 2 miles (3 kilometers) away.
Hans Schmidt, 26, was shot Wednesday night before he was to appear at a service. He remains in critical condition, police said.
