Cops Identify Victim in Ongoing Probe of ‘Accidental’ Shooting Death

Questions remain unanswered 46 days after a fatal shooting incident in Homestead, which authorities suspect was accidental. Investigations by the Pinal County Medical Examiner’s Office and Maricopa Police Department are ongoing, with key documents still classified.

The incident occurred on June 29, when MPD received reports of a shooting in the 20600 block of North Wilford Avenue shortly after 9 a.m. Upon arrival, officers found 31-year-old Jacob N. Begaye with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter, according to MPD spokesperson Monica Williams.

Williams noted that initial findings suggested Begaye was in the process of cleaning or assembling his firearm when it accidentally discharged. Despite this preliminary assessment, the medical examiner has yet to officially categorize the death as accidental. The classification process for shooting fatalities includes options for accidental, suicide, or homicide, leaving open the possibility of different conclusions.

Begaye, originally from Tuba City, was reported to have been residing in Tempe at the time of his death. The home where the incident occurred belongs to a 49-year-old immediate relative of Begaye, as indicated by records from the Pinal County Assessor’s Office. Notably, no records were found confirming Begaye’s residence in Maricopa.

Williams highlighted that Begaye was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The ongoing investigation aims to confirm the circumstances surrounding the shooting, pending the final report from the medical examiner’s office. The case remains under police scrutiny as officials work toward closure.