A tip shared to Silent Witness led to the arrest of a man believed to be involved in an October death investigation in Mesa.
On November 13, Mesa Police sent out a tweet asking for the public's help in identifying a man believed to be connected to an October death at a Mesa market.
Help identify Homicide Suspect:
On 10/29/18 between 7:30-7:45 AM an unknown male entered the Mi Pueblo Mercado, 103 W. 8th Ave, and attacked the employee. The employee was later found deceased.
If you recognize the suspect call 📞480-644-2211 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.📞 pic.twitter.com/LMWSOXJjTW— Mesa Police Dept. (@MesaPD) November 14, 2018
That same day, a tip was submitted to Silent Witness with information about a possible suspect, according to Mesa police.
Detectives used the tip to locate Kelvin Peder Aakjar, 59, at a motel in Mesa. Police say Aakjar was brought into custody without incident.
Aakjar was interviewed by officials, but he did not admit any involvement in the case.
Police were initially called to the Lindo Mercado store near Southern Avenue and Center Street on October 29 in response to an injured person. Once they arrived on scene, they located a man dead inside.
Officials identified the victim as 49-year-old Thomas Lee. He reportedly suffered some type of trauma, though police did not go into detail about his injuries.
Aakjar is in custody and is being charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of kidnapping and one count of armed robbery.
