Mesa, Ariz. — Authorities have identified an employee of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office as the individual involved in the shooting death of a 32-year-old mother of seven in Mesa.

The victim, Maria Ernestina Lewis (also known as Mia), was fatally shot and later found deceased on February 28, 2026. Police responded to a welfare check around 2:30–2:45 a.m. at a residence near East Kinetic Drive and South Reliance Way (in the broader area of Ray Road and Inspirian Parkway), where they discovered Lewis suffering from a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Lewis’s husband, speaking to FOX 10 Phoenix, an altercation occurred that morning involving their neighbor, who fired the fatal shot. Lewis reportedly ended up on the neighbor’s doorstep following the incident. The husband said investigators informed him that the shooter claimed the shooting was accidental. The husband also noted that the individual has since retained an attorney.

Police have named 47-year-old DuLance Morin as the person involved in the shooting. Morin has worked for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office since February 2016. A spokesperson for the office stated on March 2, 2026: “I can confirm DuLance Morin has been employed by the Attorney General’s Office since February 2016. He was placed on administrative leave this weekend pending the Mesa Police Department’s investigation.”

No arrests have been made, and the Mesa Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances. Officials have indicated they plan to release additional information soon.

Lewis is survived by her husband—her high school sweetheart—and their seven children. Her family has expressed a desire for murder charges to be filed against the shooter. They noted that blood-stained tiles were removed from the home’s entryway shortly after the incident. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist with funeral costs and legal expenses.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office has stated it is fully cooperating with the ongoing police investigation.

Rewritten based on the original reporting by FOX 10 Phoenix, published March 3, 2026.