A shooting at a bar near 401 S. Mill Avenue in Tempe early March 28, 2026, left 22-year-old Jacob Jaime Jr. dead and another man injured, officials said. Authorities arrested 23-year-old Aidan Zepeda on March 29 in connection with the incident, which occurred shortly after downtown bars closed.
The shooting occurred at 2:19 a.m. on March 28, 2026, near 401 S. Mill Avenue, close to the intersections of 3rd Street and West Fourth Street in Tempe, according to Tempe Police Department officials. The primary victim, 22-year-old Jacob Jaime Jr., was found with a gunshot wound and was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. He died on March 30, police confirmed. A second man suffered non-life-threatening injuries and did not require hospital transport, authorities said.
Police recovered 23 shell casings in the crowded vicinity, and bullet holes remained visible at a nearby restaurant as of April 2, according to reports.
Tempe Police responded to the scene in less than 30 seconds and provided life-saving aid to the victims, a department spokesperson said. The shooting took place shortly after downtown bars and businesses had closed for the night. Surveillance footage from the area showed a chaotic scene with people running and diving for cover following a verbal altercation that escalated into gunfire, sources confirmed.
No Arizona State University students were involved in the incident, a Tempe Police spokesperson confirmed. The city released a statement emphasizing that the shooting was not representative of the typical experience in Tempe, noting that the incident occurred after the downtown area had closed for the night.
Authorities identified 23-year-old Aidan Zepeda as a suspect through investigative efforts by the Tempe Police Department. Zepeda was arrested on March 29 in connection with the shooting, according to a City of Tempe press release issued on April 1. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office provided a photo of Zepeda following his arrest. Prior to the arrest announcement, police had actively searched for Zepeda.
The City of Tempe filed multiple charges against Zepeda, including first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder, unlawful discharge of firearms, and endangerment, the press release stated. Police continue to investigate the case following the arrest, according to official statements.
The shooting took place in a heavily populated area where dozens of bystanders were present, many of whom shielded others during the incident, sources said. Tempe Police Department officials reiterated that the investigation remains ongoing and that they are pursuing all leads related to the case.
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