MESA, AZ — An arrest has been made after two people were shot at a donut shop in Mesa.
Mesa police say it happened around 3:15 a.m. Sunday at the BoSa Donuts location near Dobson Road and Rio Salado Parkway.
Police told ABC15 the shooter went into the donut shop, shot an employee, then went outside and shot a customer in the parking lot after getting into an argument inside the shop.
Officials say the man also shot at two other employees but did not strike them.
Both victims were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. One of the victims has been released from the hospital.
According to court documents, family told detectives that one of the victims suffered a spinal injury and is now paralyzed from the neck down.
Mesa police announced Thursday that 30-year-old Donald Williams was arrested in connection to the shooting after releasing surveillance photos of the man on Tuesday.
According to court documents, Williams was attempting to get a ride to pick up his car in Scottsdale when he got into a car with an "unknown male," who Williams claims touched his leg in a sexual manner.
Williams then got out of the car and attempted to get a ride from the employees inside the BoSa Donuts but was eventually told to leave by Mesa police officers. Court documents say, "he got really angry after leaving the BoSa Donuts and decided he would go home and retrieve his firearm" and return to the donut shop "to look for the man who touched his leg."
When Williams returned to the donut shop, the man he was looking for was no longer there and he decided to try to get a ride from someone else, according to court documents.
Court documents also say Williams told investigators "he pulled the gun out with the intention of shooting the staff and patrons with the knowledge that in doing so could result in their deaths" and that "he was sure he had killed the male and female victims he shot until he saw otherwise on the news."
Williams was booked on multiple felony charges, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
During his initial appearance in court on Thursday, an attorney claimed Williams acted "out of character" and was drunk, which the attorney said played a role in the incident.
Austin Harvey, the manager of Henhouse Café, which is a few doors down from BoSa Donuts, said it was shocking to see and hear about the shooting.
“It really hits home. They’re right next door,” he told ABC15.
Harvey said he didn’t know any of the people personally, but said it was scary knowing that an employee was shot.
As detectives continued their investigation into the late morning, customers tried to go in and get their breakfast, unaware of what happened just hours earlier.
“It was shocking. I wasn’t expecting it. When I tried to open the door and [police] were like no, this is closed. I was like oh, okay. It was a little nerve-racking,” said Chad Willyerd, who has been to BoSa Donuts before.
As a result of the shooting, the BoSa location now has a sign on the door that says the store is "temporarily closed" and that the store would no longer be open 24 hours.
Police tell ABC15 they’re working to figure out whether those involved in the attack, including the victims, knew each other.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help with the medical costs for one of the victims, Aaliyah, who works at the restaurant.
"It was heartbreaking and I was mad," said Aaliyah's mother. "She can never ever walk again and that is so heartbreaking as a mother."
