Ex-roommate faces murder, assault charges

Records: Victim ID’d man now in custody as shooter

A former roommate of a 22-year-old man who was shot along with his girlfriend inside their Mesa apartment Friday has been arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting, Mesa police reported Saturday.

Arturo Perez, 22, is facing charges of second-degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after police said he shot his former roommate and the roommate’s girlfriend in their apartment early Friday morning.

Police records state Perez entered the apartment near Lindsay and Broadway roads at about 12:43 a.m. Friday and opened fire on Jesse Ibarra, 22, and Unique Aguilera, 19, following an argument over alleged infidelities.

A witness told police there was a previous argument between Perez and Ibarra, records state.

A third party called 911 and police found Ibarra in the dining room with severe gunshot wounds to his neck, right upper chest and left thigh, records state. He told investigators at the scene that Perez shot him and Aguilera, records state.

Aguilera, who was shot five times, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ibarra was transported to the hospital and underwent multiple surgeries. He positively identified Perez from a photo shown to him by an officer, records state.

Police questioned Perez about his relationship with Ibarra and Aguilera; he told investigators that he lived at the apartment from January to March 2017 but moved to out be with his girlfriend. He denied shooting the couple and said no argument with Ibarra ever occurred.

Perez said he was at his aunt’s house all night drinking at the time of the shooting; his aunt later told police he was there, records state.

Police conferred with Ibarra, who again identified Perez as the gunman, they said.

Investigators confronted Perez, who denied shooting his former roommate and Aguilera. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder and aggravated assault Friday afternoon.