Coroner confirms: fatal shooting in Homestead was an accident

Forensic experts yesterday confirmed law enforcement’s theory that a man who shot in Homestead died in an accident almost two months ago.

Jacob N. Begaye, 31, accidentally shot himself shortly after 9 a.m. on June 29 while visiting a family member's home in the 20600 block of North Wilford Avenue.

The Maricopa Police Department found Begaye with a single gunshot wound to the chest, according to Maricopa Police Department spokeswoman Monica Williams. That day, she said police believed Begaye was “cleaning or assembling his weapon and accidentally fired a shot.”

He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The Pinal County Coroner's Office confirmed yesterday that Begay's death was an accident and neither murder nor suicide.

Family visit went wrong

Begaye was visiting his family when the shooting occurred, Williams said.

A preliminary search of public records shows that Begaye, a native of Tuba City, was living in Tempe at the time of his death.

The owner of the Wilford Avenue home that became an active police scene in late June is a 49-year-old close relative of Begaye, according to the Pinal County Assessor's Office.