What started as another late Saturday night in downtown Tucson’s nightlife corridor ended in gunfire, sirens and a massive crime scene. Around 2 a.m. Sunday, a gunman opened fire near 6th Avenue and Congress Street, a stretch packed with bars, clubs and late-night spots, leaving nine people wounded before police shot the suspect.
Authorities said most of the injured were hit in their arms or legs and rushed to local hospitals. The suspect was also hospitalized after being shot by police and was listed in life‑threatening condition, according to KOLD/Gray News.
How Police Say The Shooting Unfolded
According to Tucson Police Department officials, officers on routine foot patrol heard gunfire cut through the downtown noise and moved toward the shots. They said the officers chased a suspect through the area and issued "repeated commands" before one uniformed officer opened fire, hitting the man.
The suspect and all nine other adults who were shot were taken to hospitals, many with gunshot wounds to their extremities, Reuters reported via The Star. No officers were reported injured.
Police have not released the suspect’s name and have not identified a motive. Investigators also have not said whether they believe the gunfire was targeted at specific individuals or appears to have been random.
Officials said the Pima County Sheriff’s Department will handle the outside investigative review of the shooting, while Tucson police conduct an internal administrative investigation into the officer’s actions.
Crime Scene Locks Down Busy Corner
The blocks around 6th Avenue and Congress Street quickly turned from bustling entertainment district to taped-off crime scene. Detectives cordoned off the area to process evidence, while media crews were pushed back behind the perimeter, early reports indicated.
The gunfire was reported near several businesses along Congress, including a late-night pizza shop, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. Officers urged anyone who was downtown at the time, especially those with cell phone video or other recordings, to save that footage and share it with investigators as they work to reconstruct exactly what happened.
City Leaders Decry Violence As Probes Ramp Up
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero condemned the shooting as “another serious and senseless act of gun violence,” while Pima County Attorney Laura Conover said victim advocates were dispatched to local hospitals to support those who were hurt, according to Arizona's Family.
The outlet reported that the incident adds to a string of officer-involved shootings in the region this year. Authorities again pressed anyone with video or information to contact investigators and call 88-CRIME, reminding the public that even a brief clip or detail from the chaotic scene could help fill in crucial gaps in the timeline.
