PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona’s Family has learned more about the Phoenix brothers charged in the murder of a man found in a burning car last month.
Phoenix police say the suspects, Jose and Roberto Lomeli, were arrested this weekend.
They believe the brothers worked together, with one pulling the trigger and the other helping to cover it up with a fire in the canal.
Phoenix Police revealed a jailhouse confession is how they learned what happened in April when the body of 26-year-old Jose de Jesus Loeza was found inside a burning car in the canal.
“That’s when Jose was able to provide details more in depth to detectives of exactly what took place that night,” said Phoenix Police Sgt. Brian Bower.
Bower said it began when the fire department received a call about a car on fire in the canal near 55th Avenue and Osborn Road on the morning of April 1.
Once firefighters put it out, they discovered a body inside, but the medical examiner ruled the victim didn’t die from the flames.
“In this particular circumstance, it was gunfire that was believed to be the cause of the death itself,” said Bower.
That’s when the Phoenix police homicide unit took over the case.
They identified the victim as Loeza and said their investigation led them to the Lomeli brothers – Jose and Roberto.
Sgt. Bower said when they brought them in for questioning, Jose cracked and told police he was the one who shot Loeza.
“One of them was responsible for the murder of the victim. His brother was responsible for helping, hindering the investigation as well as causing the fire and helping with the arson aspect,” said Bower.
Bower said Jose Lomeli and Loeza got into an argument at a home in the area and that’s when Jose Lomeli opened fire.
He said the brothers worked together to put Loeza into his own car’s trunk, set the car on fire and abandon it in the canal.
Bower said they’re still testing and processing evidence in the case.
“The entire car itself is considered evidence, so that’s whether there were bullet fragments or bullet holes,” Bower said.
Jose Lomeli’s own implication led to a second-degree murder charge, among others, including arson and abandoning a body. Roberto Lomeli is charged with arson and abandoning a body, too.
Because it is an open and active investigation, Phoenix police would not reveal how the Lomeli brothers knew the victim and what the fight was about in the first place.
Both brothers are due back in court later this week.
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