An arrest has been made nearly a year after the murder of a man in Mesa, which occurred during what authorities described as a drug and gun sale gone awry. Mesa Police Department confirmed the apprehension of 18-year-old Devin Moll for the murder of 23-year-old Gavin Wadzinski, who was found dead on April 21, 2024. According to azfamily.com, Wadzinski was discovered on the sidewalk, with his vehicle's engine still running, east of Power Road in Mesa.
Further investigation revealed a prearranged meeting between the two individuals, where Wadzinski intended to purchase a gun and marijuana from Moll. In the aftermath of several search warrants, the police gathered details of the agreement and Moll's description of his vehicle, a white Nissan Altima. Notably, Moll's car was identified by its "unusual headlight pattern," which played a crucial role in tracing his movements back to the crime scene, FOX 10 Phoenix reported.
Authorities dug deeper, examining Moll's social media activity, where they found communications about him selling guns, vape cartridges, and marijuana. During an interrogation with the police, Moll admitted to meeting Wadzinski for the transaction. He claimed to have given Wadzinski some loose marijuana and started counting the money when, according to azfamily.com, Wadzinski "made a motion with his hands," which were still in his sweatshirt pockets. Believing he was about to be robbed, Moll shot Wadzinski, who then grabbed his chest and fell to the ground.
Moll was arrested on April 1, 2025, and charged with second-degree murder. He is being held on a $1 million bond, as per azfamily.com. The case highlights the dangers of illegal transactions, and Mesa Police used technology and social media forensics to track the events leading to Wadzinski's death.
