On a tragic afternoon in Glendale, Arizona, the life of 24-year-old Jaquey James was abruptly cut short in what police have described as a random act of violence. On November 20, 2023, James was sitting at a bus stop near the intersection of 51st and Northern avenues when he and another man, 69-year-old Richard Hodakievic, were fatally shot. The incident, which has deeply affected the local community, unfolded after a domestic dispute spilled out into the public with devastating
consequences.
The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Dominic Celaya, had reportedly been in a heated, physical argument with his girlfriend in a car nearby. Witnesses reported that after exiting the vehicle, Celaya fired two rounds into the air before walking towards the bus stop where James and Hodakievic were seated. He then allegedly shot both men multiple times. There is no known connection between Celaya and the victims, leading investigators to believe the shooting was a senseless and random attack.
Following the shooting, Celaya fled the scene on foot, prompting a search by law enforcement. He was later discovered hiding under a compost barrel in the backyard of a nearby residence and was apprehended with the assistance of a police K-9 unit. A handgun was reportedly found in his backpack. Celaya was subsequently arrested and booked on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm, with his bond set at $1 million. During a police interview, Celaya denied firing a gun and claimed he could not remember the incident.
Jaquey James's family remembers him as a brilliant young man with a promising future in music and art. He was a father to a three-year-old daughter. In the wake of his death, his family has set up a GoFundMe to honor his memory. The shocking and public nature of the killings has left witnesses and the wider community in distress, raising concerns about safety in the area.
