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Neighborhood fight in Mesa ends in two deaths, arrest of suspect

Mesa police say a man and woman were killed Thursday night after gunfire was exchanged during a fight with another couple.

MESA, Ariz. — A couple was shot and killed Thursday night after a neighborhood fight in Mesa escalated to gun violence. 

According to the Mesa Police Department, 54-year-old Shawn M. Conner and Ivana Liversedge, 39, were shot after getting into a dispute with another couple outside a home in the 700 block of South Del Rancho. That's near the intersection of E Emelita Avenue and S Signal Butte Road.

When officers arrived shortly before midnight, they found the man and woman lying on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds. 

Mesa police have arrested Justin Peterson, 41, on suspicion of second-degree murder and reckless discharge of a firearm. 

Court records show Peterson and his wife had become "romantic acquaintances" with Liversedge over the last few weeks. 

The trio later had a falling out, which erupted into a confrontation between the two couples Thursday night. 

Peterson's wife told Mesa police she got into a physical fight with Liversedge and her husband reacted by firing a gun at the victims.

Investigators felt they had probable cause to arrest Peterson on suspicion of recklessly firing a weapon.

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