Arrest made in brutal murder at Glendale gas station, police say

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Police have announced that a man has been arrested after the brutal murder of a gas station attendant in Glendale.

"This was a heinous, vicious murder," said Jose Santiago with Glendale Police.

The man, identified as 20-year-old Mohammad Hussain Ataei, made his initial appearance before a judge on the night of April 28. 

We obtained exclusive video of the moment police arrested Ataei. In the video, about a dozen police SWAT members were seen gathering outside a home in the West Valley, as neighbors say they heard police tell someone to come out with their hands up.

Ataei accused of brutally killing store employee

Mohammad Ataei

Investigators accuse Ataei of killing Irma Rivera Martinez.

Martinez, a gas station worker, was shot at least 10 times in what police say was a targeted attack. She was in the back of the store stocking shelves when Ataei allegedly approached her, and opened fire at close range.

Another employee was in the store and saw the heavily disguised suspect, but was not harmed.

Detectives say they found security video that showed a Toyota Camry parked down an alleyway near the Chevron during the shooting. 

The suspect in the gas station surveillance footage, described as a heavy set male dressed in all black and wearing distinctive flame-pattern Vans shoes, could be seen running back to the car after Martinez was shot.

"Ataei was wearing very distinctive clothing in this case, which included a dark face mask and a pair of shoes which appeared to be old school flame shoes by Vans," said Officer Gina Winn with the Glendale Police Department.

"The shoes were very distinct on this individual, and they were able to find the box were bought in, as well as the receipt," said Santiago.

License plate records showed that Ataei was the owner of the car, and police arrested him near 48th Avenue and Glendale shortly after.

"A search of his Avondale home produced evidence of the weapon that was used, along with some of the clothing Ataei was wearing the night of the murder," police said.

The nature of their relationship remains unknown, and Ataei has reportedly refused to cooperate. Officials say a handgun which is believed to be the weapon used in Martinez's murder has been found.

The 20-year-old now faces a first-degree murder charge.

"Our detectives are still trying to determine exactly what the motive was behind all of this," said Santiago.

"We know this is a very tragic situation for the family. For us here at the police department, we want to do anything we can to get this person off the street and really give this family some closure," said Santiago.

After Ataei was arrested, we reached out to the suspect's mother. As she opened the door, she started sobbing, and said she was not willing to talk. People living in the area were also too scared to talk on camera.

Ataei is accused of first-degree murder.