On a Tuesday night in Mesa, Arizona, a heated argument escalated into a tragic double homicide that claimed the life of 48-year-old Ronnie Lazalde and his wife, Natishia Lazalde. The incident unfolded on November 1, 2022, at an apartment complex near Main Street and Power Road.
That evening, Mesa police received multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired at the apartment complex around 11:15 p.m.
When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Ronnie and Natishia Lazalde under a stairwell, both suffering from gunshot wounds. Ronnie Lazalde was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, Natishia, was given emergency first aid and transported to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries the following morning.
The investigation into the shooting revealed that the incident stemmed from a verbal altercation. Natishia had been with a man named Johnel Trinidad, 44, in an apartment when her son came to visit. An argument broke out between Trinidad and Natishia's son, and the three of them moved outside. Ronnie then joined the argument, which continued to escalate until Trinidad allegedly pulled out a weapon and fired at both Ronnie and his stepson.
In response, Natishia's son, who was also armed, fired at Trinidad as he tried to flee the scene. When the exchange of gunfire ended, both Ronnie and Natishia had been fatally wounded, and Trinidad had been shot in the leg. Trinidad was taken to a hospital for treatment and was subsequently released into police custody. Following the investigation, detectives determined they had probable cause to charge Johnel Trinidad with two counts of manslaughter and one count of being a prohibited possessor. He was then booked into jail on these charges.
