A fatal shooting incident at a CVS store in Mesa, Arizona has led to the arrest of a man. The event unfolded on Thursday evening, culminating in the death of the store’s manager, 49-year-old Michael Jacobs. The alleged shooter, 38-year-old Jared Sevey, was reportedly embroiled in a disagreement with Jacobs earlier that day over allegations of shoplifting, as per court records.
The Mesa Police Department was alerted to the shooting at the CVS store, situated at the crossroads of Brown Road and Mesa Drive, around 8:10 p.m. On reaching the scene, the officers found Jacobs inside the store, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite immediate medical attention and transportation to a hospital, Jacobs succumbed to his injuries.
The police were able to track down the suspect due to a tip-off from a caller who provided a detailed description and indicated the direction in which the suspect had fled. The Real Time Crime Center detectives from Mesa reviewed the surveillance footage and identified a man fitting the suspect’s description near the pharmacy.
The suspect was found at the northeast corner of Brown Road and Mesa Drive. The officers observed him discarding a firearm into a nearby canal, which was subsequently recovered. Sevey was taken into custody and is reported to have admitted to the shooting.
According to the arrest report, Sevey alleged that during the earlier confrontation, Jacobs had tried to strike him but missed. Sevey purportedly stated that this incident was the final straw, and he had previously resolved that the next person who attempted to harm him would “feel like he feels.”
Court documents indicate that Sevey had visited the store around 4:30 p.m. on the day of the shooting and was accused of shoplifting. The store decided not to press charges at that time. Sevey reportedly left the store, procured a firearm, and returned several hours later. He asked to speak with the manager and told an employee to clear the store. Surveillance footage captured Sevey pulling out a pistol from his waistband and shooting Jacobs multiple times.
Sevey is now facing charges of first-degree murder, illegal possession of a weapon, and tampering with evidence. The CVS store where the incident took place will remain closed until further notice.