Who was Michael Jacobs? Shoplifter Jared Sevey allegedly returned to shoot CVS manager as he was 'tired of being bullied'
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
MESA, ARIZONA: Michael Jacobs, a devoted husband and father who worked as a committed CVS manager in Arizona, tragically died on September 7, allegedly at the hands of Jared Sevey.
The accused had apparently previously shoplifted at the CVS store before he returned to shoot Jacobs.
According to the Mesa police, Sevey's motivations appeared to stem from feelings of being "tired of being bullied" and a conviction that "this was the last straw."
What led to the tragic shooting of Michael Jacobs?
Events that led to Michael Jacobs' untimely death apparently began four hours before the fatal shooting. Jared Sevey, the suspected gunman, had supposedly shoplifted from the CVS store earlier in the day, but the establishment had decided not to pursue charges against him.
Unbeknown to them, the shoplifter returned home, retrieved a firearm, and came back to the store. He specifically sought out Michael and instructed employees to evacuate customers before shooting him.
"Jared made spontaneous statements to officers, telling them, ‘I did it. I’m guilty. I planned this,' and ‘I bet he ain't talking (expletive) no more, now is he'," said prosecutors during Sevey's first court appearance last week.
Then the perpetrator allegedly asked cops for a beer because, "I'm going away for, like, 20 years," the prosecutor related. That's when Sevey allegedly told arresting officers that he was "tired of people picking on me," and "this was the only way I can show people that's not OK," as per Fox News.
Witnesses reported seeing Sevey covered in blood, discarding a gun in a nearby canal. Sevey now faces charges of first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. Due to prior violent crime convictions, he is prohibited from owning firearms.
Michael Jacobs' wife recalls the heartbreaking night her husband died
Stacy Jacobs, Michael Jacobs' wife of 23 years, and their children had always relied on his punctuality. He would return home from work every night at precisely 10.50 pm, a routine they had grown accustomed to.
However, on the fateful night, Michael didn't return home as expected. Little did his family know that their lives were about to be shattered.
As midnight approached and he remained absent, a sense of unease enveloped the Jacobs household. Stacy vividly recalls her son's concern, as he asked "Where's dad at?" She attempted to reach Michael through calls but received no response.
The mounting anxiety led her to inquire at local hospitals, hoping for any sign of her missing husband. It was during a Google search for information about Michael's store that Stacy's worst fears began to take shape as they found there had been a shooting at the CVS.
While making her way to the location, Stacy was contacted by the police, but she wasn't ready for the shocking news.
Outside the CVS store, she saw her husband's car was parked in the usual location. "I don't think anything else because I know how good my husband is with security and safety at that store," she said.
"But the man (police officer) tells me that there was a tragedy at the store," added Stacy, continuing, "Mike has been shot … It was very brief, but they wanted to make sure that I understood that he was gone, you know, that he's deceased. He got shot. He got killed."
GoFundMe launched for Michael Jacobs' family
A GoFundMe campaign was launched to raise funds for Michael Jacobs' funeral expenses, and it has already amassed $23,829 as opposed to the original goal of $10,000.
Gabriel, Michael's son, paid tribute to his father, saying he "would make me smile as I felt sad." "He was such a perfect person, and he made me realize what I want to do in this life," wrote the son.
"When I tell anybody about the tragic murder of him, I tell them about I remember him as ‘the strong man.’ "He would always remind of taking on hard tasks and being a strong person to support the ones you love… My dad would come home and tell us stories of how he'd help his customers," added Gabriel.