Family escapes Tucson mass shooting after woman spots gunman outside pizza restaurant

TUCSON, AZ (AZFamily) — A confrontation between two groups of people ended with a mass shooting in which 10 people, including a suspect, were shot, according to officials with the Tucson Police Department.

Around 2 a.m., police responded to the shooting near 6th Avenue and Congress Street.

Officials said police in the area heard gunshots and immediately ran to the area and found the suspect running away.

Police said an officer then shot the suspect. Officers took the suspect into custody and gave him first aid before Tucson Fire crews took him to a hospital. He was last listed in a life-threatening condition.

Nine other people were also hurt, and authorities are hopeful they all may survive, according to Pima County Attorney Laura Conover. Police said they all suffered critical gunshot wounds to their arms or legs.

Police did say that the groups involved in the confrontation knew each other.

Witness describes moments before the shooting

Anais Camacho said she was at Empire Pizza around 1 a.m. with her family when the argument broke out between the two groups just outside the business.

“They were passing through, I’m thinking, because the way he was backing up made it seem like they were coming from over there,” Camacho said.

Camacho said she noticed one of the individuals lift his shirt. “He lifted his shirt up and I didn’t even see the gun, but I knew what that meant,” she said.

She alerted those around her and grabbed her cousin before running.

“I said ‘he has a gun, he has a gun,’” Camacho said. “As soon as we bent the corner, shots fired.”

Camacho said she is grateful her family escaped unharmed.

“I’m feeling grateful, I’m feeling grateful that me and my family are all OK. And that we were all able to escape,” she said.

The pizza shop released a statement on its Instagram page, saying two of the victims shot were on their patio.

Mayor Regina Romero took to social media to denounce the shooting, calling it “another serious and senseless act of gun violence.”

Last night, Tucson experienced another serious and senseless act of gun violence. 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.

As we all know too well, the impact resulting from this act of gun violence reaches beyond the scene and the victims. It affects all of us: family and friends, first responders, the witnesses, our entire community. We know these moments leave a lasting impression on us and our sense of safety.

Easy access to guns and Arizona’s weak gun safety laws have continued to put all of us at risk. From requiring universal background checks to extreme risk laws to funding violence prevention there is more lawmakers can and should do.

We all deserve to be safe in all public spaces, in our schools, in our homes, in our shopping malls, and in our places of worship.

For the victims, you have my prayers for healing and a speedy recovery. To the first responders, you have my gratitude. To our community, join us in taking action against gun violence and helping the victims and those affected by gun violence to heal.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. Tucson police will also conduct a separate internal investigation to determine whether any department policies were violated.

Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be sent to the Pima County Attorney’s Office for review.

Investigators are asking anyone with information or video of the shooting to call 520-88-CRIME and reference the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Tips can be anonymous.

This is the 10th officer-involved shooting in the Tucson area that Arizona’s Family has reported on this year and the 52nd statewide.

It comes after two officer-involved shootings were reported in the Valley over the weekend. One involved Chandler police at a Tempe apartment complex, and another involved Mesa police and a homicide suspect.

Map of officer-involved shootings in Arizona below:

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