In a senseless act of violence, 69-year-old Richard E. Hodakievic lost his life on November 20, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. A quiet and gentle man, Hodakievic was a retired U.S. Navy veteran who had spent the last five years of his life in the Phoenix area. He was a man who enjoyed staying in shape, a good student, and a talented singer in his youth.
The tragic incident unfolded at a bus stop where Hodakievic was shot multiple times in what authorities have described as a random act.
He was not the only victim of this unforeseen violence; 24-year-old Jaquey James was also fatally shot at the scene. Neither man had any known connection to the shooter. Both victims were transported to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead.
Following the shooting, law enforcement quickly identified and apprehended a suspect. Dominic Celaya, 26, was arrested and subsequently booked on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm. According to police reports, Celaya had been in an argument with his girlfriend moments before the shooting. After exiting their vehicle, he allegedly fired shots into the air before turning his weapon on the two men at the bus stop. Witnesses at the scene provided accounts that led to Celaya's capture. He was found by a police canine after fleeing on foot into a nearby apartment complex. A handgun was recovered from his backpack. During a police interview, Celaya denied firing a gun and claimed to have no memory of the incident.
