Mesa Police arrest suspect accused of first-degree murder

PHOENIX — A suspect in Mesa accused of killing a man following a fight in a restaurant parking lot has been arrested, police said Wednesday.

Jose Ivan Chavez Garcia, 35, was booked March 1 on one count of first-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Alejandro Saldano Hernandez, according to the Mesa Police Department.

The victim, his girlfriend and two friends had a disagreement with Garcia and his friends, which spilled into the parking lot of the Cayomango restaurant near University Drive and Centennial Way at about 11:45 p.m. on Feb. 13, police said.

Garcia and two friends then started fist fighting with Hernandez before Garcia went to his car and retrieved a handgun, according to police.

Officers responded to the parking lot and found Hernandez lying on the ground with multiple bullet wounds, police said.

Hernandez was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Garcia fled the scene in a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, which was found abandoned four days later near Gilbert and Broadway roads, according to police.

Garcia was arrested while officers were serving a search warrant at his Mesa home.

Related

Arrest made in case of 3 cousins found dead in Phoenix vacant lot16-year-old McDonald's employee fatally shot in bathroom of Phoenix restaurantWeekend wrap: Here are the biggest Arizona news stories from Aug. 7-9State seeks sanctions against Tucson mobile home park owner over unsafe electrical systemSAFE Alert canceled after missing 41-year-old man last seen in Avondale found safeHarry & Izzy’s steakhouse announces opening state for Arizona debut