Arizona Attorney General’s Office employee indicted over Mesa neighborhood shooting that left woman dead

PHOENIX – The man accused of shooting his neighbor on his doorstep is being charged in connection with her death.

What we know:

A grand jury indicted 47-year-old DuLance Morin on suspicion of negligent homicide after police say he shot his neighbor, 32-year-old Maria Lewis, on his doorstep in February.

Morin, a special agent with the Arizona Attorney General’s office, reportedly told police the shooting was an accident. A legal expert said that would conflict with a self-defense argument under Arizona law.

The backstory:

The shooting allegedly involving Morin happened on Feb. 28, 2026.

According to our report at the time, the shooting happened in a neighborhood near Ray Road and Inspirian Parkway. Mesa Police confirmed that Morin was involved in the shooting.

The shooting victim was later identified as Lewis, a mother of seven. Morin was placed on administrative leave as of March 2.

According to internal documents surrounding the incident, a neighbor of Lewis heard yelling around 2:15 in the morning. Documents reveal Lewis was arguing with her husband and went to the doorstep of Morin’s house where she was shot and killed. Mesa Police recommended negligent homicide charges against Morin.

 He claims Lewis was banging on his door and, when he warned her he had a gun, she claimed she had one too.

The other side:

Morin reportedly admitted to detectives the shot came from his hand, but called it an accident. Attorney Joshua Kolsrud says that statement complicates a self-defense argument.

The Maricopa County Attorney’s office pursued the felony negligent homicide charge, and Kolsrud believes it fits the evidence.

“In ordinary circumstances, that should be enough for self-defense,” Kolsrud said. “But here, you have kind of a wrinkle. Because the defendant admitted that it was an accident. And so what would ordinarily appear to be self-defense may not be under the law.”

He continued, “The defendant in this case did state that when he shot the victim, it was an accident. Which implies that it was negligence, as opposed to an intentional murder … But, it also is important when considering self-defense, because self-defense requires that the act is knowing or intelligent, and intentional. And in this case, if there’s an accident, self-defense doesn’t apply.”

What they’re saying:

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office has released a statement on Morin, which reads:

“Mr. Morin remains employed in an administrative position at the Attorney General’s Office and will continue to remain employed in that position unless he is convicted in a court of law. Attorney General Mayes believes Mr. Morin is not guilty of this charge and will be found not guilty. Mr. Morin is now entitled to due process as is every individual.”

What’s next:

According to court records, Morin could go to trial in March.

What we don’t know:

If Morin is found guilty, it’s unknown what sentence he could face.

Area where the shooting happened

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