Phoenix police have arrested 30‑year‑old Michael Abel Dominguez in connection with a paintball gun shooting at a mosque involving children, police spokesperson Sgt. Lorraine Fernandez said.
While working with the Street Crimes Unit, investigators reviewed surveillance and other evidence that identified a vehicle linked to the case and its registered owner, Fernandez said.
During the arrest and subsequent searches, detectives recovered pellet‑style firearms consistent with those used in the incident, she said.
Dominguez was booked into jail on multiple charges including an outstanding felony warrant, according to Fernandez.
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What happened during the attack?
Around 2:30 a.m. March 7, officers responded to a report of a man shooting what appeared to be a pellet or paintball gun in the direction of the Islamic Center of North Phoenix near Thunderbird Road and 19th Avenue, according to Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Lorraine Fernandez.
Multiple people saw “a suspicious vehicle” approach the mosque’s gate before a man, later identified as Dominguez, got out and pointed what initially appeared to be a firearm, Fernandez said. Several popping sounds prompted people to retreat to safety. The sounds were later determined not to be a firearm, according to Fernandez.
Dominguez fired paintballs at the group upon returning to his vehicle, striking multiple parked vehicles before he fled, according to Fernandez. No one was injured, Fernandez added.
Who was attacked?
The Islamic center’s board shared a statement with The Arizona Republic, where they described those gathered outside the mosque as “youth” and “children,” while calling for acts of goodness. Mohamed El-Sharkawy, who is the founder and director of the Arizona Muslim Police Advisory Board, told The Republic that those at the mosque were gathered for late-night prayer during the period of Ramadan that concludes March 19 in Arizona.
Children and families gathering at a mosque for Ramadan prayers should never have to fear being targeted, said Executive Director Azza Abuseif with the Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
“Although we are grateful that no one was physically injured, an attack that appears to target a house of worship while children are present is deeply alarming,” Abuseif said in a statement. “We urge law enforcement authorities to investigate this incident thoroughly, including the possibility that it was motivated by bias.”
CAIR-AZ called on law enforcement to investigate the attack as a possible hate crime, according to an email sent to The Republic.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego’s spokesperson, Todd Zubatkin, said police confirmed that the incident is being investigated as a hate crime.
How was the community recovering from the incident?
El-Sharkawy organized a fast-breaking service March 8 at the mosque with congregants and officials from throughout the Valley in attendance, including Gallego.
Children were playing on the basketball court as Gallego walked into the mosque courtyard. Women gathered to greet her, taking pictures with the mayor as she wore a traditional Islamic headpiece, similar to a woman standing beside her.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego speaks with Islamic leaders outside the Islamic Center of North Phoenix on March 8, 2026.
The energy in the mosque was euphoric during the service with the community joined together in prayer, seemingly unbothered by the events that unfolded the day before.
“Ramadan is a time for community and reflection, and I think we’d all benefit from that,” Gallego said.
Gallego also spoke with several Islamic Center of North Phoenix leaders outside of the mosque, sharing that there was no place for hate.
“Everyone should be free to worship as you wish, and we want to be a community that welcomes people of all faiths,” Gallego said.
The Republic’s Christian Cervantes and Jose R. Gonzalez contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Michael Abel Dominguez accused in Phoenix mosque shooting