On a Monday morning in Mesa, Arizona, what began as a routine workday for Blake Hulbert, a 40-year-old male, ended in a fatal encounter. Just after 11:30 a.m. on July 7, 2025, Hulbert, a superintendent for a construction company, was in the parking lot of a Home Depot near Rio Salado Parkway and Dobson Road when an altercation occurred. The dispute escalated, and Hulbert was shot multiple times.
Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
The man accused of the shooting, 27-year-old Mario Montes, remained at the scene and called 911 to report the incident. According to court documents, Montes informed the operator that he had shot someone he did not know after feeling that the other man had blocked him in. When Hulbert approached his car window, Montes allegedly shot him. Upon their arrival, police found Hulbert near his Ford F-150 with three gunshot wounds. A 9mm handgun and three spent shell casings were recovered from Montes' vehicle; no weapons were found in Hulbert's truck.
Montes was arrested and subsequently booked into jail on a charge of second-degree murder. While he stayed at the scene after the shooting, he reportedly refused to speak with police. Investigators are examining surveillance footage from the area to piece together the events that led to the deadly confrontation. A coworker who arrived at the scene later was unaware of any previous conflicts between Hulbert and anyone matching the suspect's description. The incident was also partially captured on a cellphone video by a nearby Walmart employee, showing the aftermath as Hulbert attempted to get up before collapsing.
Blake Hulbert is remembered as a loving husband and a father to two young daughters. Known for his willingness to help others, especially those in recovery, his death has left his family and community grieving. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing as authorities work to understand what precipitated the fatal altercation in the home improvement store's parking lot.
