Mesa Police have arrested 44-year-old Johnel Trinidad for the deaths of Ronnie Lazalde and his wife Natishia Lazalde
that occurred on November 1, at 124 N 67th Street in Mesa.
According to the Mesa Police Department, on November 1, at around 11:15 p.m., the Department received several calls about shots being fired at 124 N 67th Street in Mesa. When officers arrived, they found the married couple under a stairwell outside of an apartment. Both Ronnie and Natishia had suffered gunshot wounds. Ronnie was pronounced deceased at the scene and Natishia was transported to the hospital where she died at around 1:20 a.m.
Detectives determined through their investigation that Natishia was with Johnel in an apartment when Natishia’s son came over for a visit. Johnel and the son got into a verbal argument and all three of them walked outside where Ronnie joined in the argument. As the argument continued, Johnel pulled a weapon and fired at Ronnie and the son. The son then pulled his own gun and fired at Johnel while he was running away. When the shooting stopped, Ronnie and Natishia had both suffered what turned out to be fatal wounds and Johnel was shot in the leg. Johnel was transported to the hospital where he was treated for his wound and later released into police custody.
Through interviews, investigative techniques and forensic evidence recovered at the scene, Detectives found probable cause to charge Johnel Trinidad with two counts of Manslaughter (C2 felonies) for the deaths of Ronnie and Natishia, and one count of prohibited possessor (Class 4 felony). Johnel was booked into jail for the above listed charges.