A 21-year-old man has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly opening fire in a downtown Tucson nightlife district early Sunday, wounding nine people before police intervened. The suspect, David Leroy French, faces nine counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, nine counts of aggravated assault causing serious physical injury, and one count of discharging a firearm at a structure, according to a Tucson Police Department spokesperson.
French was booked in absentia while hospitalized and is expected to be transferred to the Pima County Adult Detention Complex upon his release. Additional charges are pending as the investigation continues.
The shooting occurred around 2 a.m. on East Congress Street, an area known for its bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. An interim complaint indicated that the gunfire followed a verbal altercation. Investigators identified French as the shooter after reviewing surveillance footage, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
Officers on patrol nearby heard the shots and responded to the scene on foot. Police observed the suspect fleeing the area and issued repeated commands for him to stop. According to authorities, the suspect did not comply, and a uniformed officer discharged his weapon, striking French. The suspect was taken into custody and received first aid before being transported to a hospital in life-threatening condition.
Nine other individuals were wounded and taken to local hospitals. Most of the victims sustained injuries to their arms or legs. No fatalities were reported, and no officers were injured in the incident.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has stated that French’s mugshot will not be released at this time, citing a ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
