53-year-old Laveen man arrested in connection with Mesa double-homicide
Mar 11, 2022, 4:00 PM | Updated: 4:07 pm
Aaron Thomas (MCSO mugshot)
(MCSO mugshot)
PHOENIX — A 53-year-old Laveen man was arrested Thursday in connection with a double-homicide that occurred in Mesa in January, authorities said.
Aaron Thomas was booked on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed robbery and one count of misconduct involving weapons, according to the Mesa Police Department.
Officers received a call of a shooting at about 3 a.m. on Jan. 28 at a home in a residential neighborhood near Alma School Road and Main Street.
When they arrived, they found the two victims dead in the back residence of the house.
Police identified the victims as 32-year-old Mottio Paschal and 24-year-old Makinley Charnoski.
The caller said she heard loud banging and when she went to check on the situation, a man dressed in all black with a black backpack ran past her, according to police.
A person who said he drove Thomas near the scene of the incident to purchase pills said the suspect came running back to the car with a black backpack and black clothing, police said.
A handgun matching the caliber of weapon used in the murders was recovered from Thomas’ house, police said.
