Heroic actions by Tucson police officers on early Sunday morning halted a mass shooting that left nine individuals in critical condition. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. in a bustling downtown district on East Congress Street.
Officers on foot patrol were alerted to the sound of gunfire and immediately moved toward the source. According to Frank Magos, Public Information Officer for the Tucson Police Department, the officers encountered the suspect as they advanced. After issuing repeated commands, one officer discharged their department-issued firearm, striking the suspect.
The suspect, whose identity has not been released, sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital. The nine victims, all adults, were shot in their extremities and remain in critical condition at local hospitals. An investigation into the shooting is currently underway, and authorities are requesting that anyone with information or who may have witnessed the event contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Office.
Witnesses in the vicinity, including patrons at the Highwire bar and Empire Pizzeria, reported hearing the gunshots followed by a significant police presence responding to the scene.