TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – A Tucson police officer shot a suspect who was running from a mass shooting scene that left nine people injured in downtown Tucson early Sunday morning.
Patrol officers assigned to the downtown district heard multiple gunshots near East Congress Street and N. 6th Ave at approximately 2 a.m. and immediately responded on foot, according to the Tucson Police Department.
As officers arrived, they encountered a male suspect running from the scene.
Officers gave the suspect multiple commands before a uniformed officer discharged his firearm, striking the suspect.
Officers immediately took the suspect into custody and provided first aid.
Personnel from the Tucson Fire Department transported the suspect to a local hospital in life-threatening condition. No officers were injured during the incident.
During the initial shooting, multiple individuals sustained gunshot trauma, primarily to their extremities. Officers immediately provided medical aid to many of the victims before TFD personnel arrived and transported all the victims to a local hospital for treatment.
The Pima Regional Critical Incident Team has been activated to handle the criminal investigation of this incident. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is the lead investigating agency for this officer-involved shooting.
The Tucson Police Department will be conducting a separate, but parallel investigation to determine if any policy violations occurred. As is standard practice in all officer-involved shootings, all findings will be forwarded to the Pima County Attorney’s Office for review once the investigation is complete.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero released a statement addressing the shooting.
“Last night, Tucson experienced another serious and senseless act of gun violence,” Romero said. “A shooter recklessly began shooting in a crowded area striking nine people before being stopped by a Tucson Police Officer.”
“Thanks to the quick actions and excellent care provided by our fire fighters and police officers, all victims were stabilized and taken to the hospital where we are hopeful they will all recover,” Romero said.
The mayor also addressed broader concerns about gun violence in the community.
“Easy access to guns and Arizona’s weak gun safety laws have continued to put all of us at risk,” Romero said. “From requiring universal background checks to extreme risk laws to funding violence prevention there is more lawmakers can and should do.”
Investigators are asking anyone with information or who may have video of the incident to contact 88-CRIME and reference Pima County Sheriff’s Department case number 260719048. Callers can remain anonymous.