A Tucson man accused of returning to a midtown home with two other men and allegedly pistol-whipping and shooting a victim now faces several felony charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and armed robbery. A judge set his bond at $150,000 after his first court appearance.
Ernie Gomez had been at the home earlier before allegedly coming back with two other men, according to court documents cited by KVOA. Those court records say the three men entered the home without permission, setting off the chain of events that led to Gomez's arrest.
Pistol Used in Assault, State Says
Per the state, Gomez allegedly pistol-whipped and shot one victim during the break-in. The incident happened at a midtown home in Tucson, according to Tucson police. The report does not identify either victim or describe the extent of their injuries.
Gomez is now facing charges that include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and armed robbery, both felony counts under Arizona law. Under state statute, aggravated assault covers an assault that causes serious physical injury or involves the use of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, according to the Arizona Legislature. Armed robbery, meanwhile, is classified as a class 2 felony under separate state statute from the Arizona Legislature.
First Court Appearance, $150,000 Bond
Gomez appeared in court for the first time this week, where a judge set his bond at $150,000. A defendant's first appearance in Superior Court is called an arraignment, where a not-guilty plea is entered to the charges in the indictment, per the Pima County Superior Court. It is not known whether Gomez has entered a plea or whether he remains in custody following the bond decision.
The capture status of the other two men who allegedly entered the home with Gomez was not reported, and their identities have not been verified. It remains unclear whether either man has been taken into custody as the case against Gomez moves forward in the court system.
