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Phoenix Man Arrested in Paintball Attack on North Phoenix Mosque During Ramadan

Investigators recovered pellet-style weapons they say match the scene, with the case under review as a possible hate crime.

Overview

  • Michael Abel Dominguez, 30, was arrested March 9 and booked into Maricopa County Jail on a $150,000 cash-only bond.
  • Police say he fired paintball and BB rounds around 2:30 a.m. on March 7 at the Islamic Center of North Phoenix as children and young adults gathered, damaging vehicles and a fence with no injuries reported.
  • Detectives used surveillance to identify his Honda and later seized a paintball pistol and magazine containing steel and red paintballs that court records say match projectiles recovered at the mosque.
  • Searches also turned up additional BB guns, a compound bow, methamphetamine and fentanyl, and records note he is prohibited from possessing weapons because of prior felony convictions.
  • He faces charges including aggravated assault, criminal damage, weapons misconduct, drug possession and probation violation, and authorities have increased patrols as they evaluate potential bias motivation.