UPDATE: July 19, 12:10 p.m., EST
By Associated Press
TUCSON, Ariz. — A gunman killed one person and wounded four others, including firefighters and paramedics, at the scene of a house fire in Arizona on Sunday before being shot by an officer, authorities said.
The 35-year-old suspect, who was critically wounded and remains hospitalized, drove up to the fire and shot at an ambulance crew around 3:45 p.m., Tucson police Chief Chris Magnus told news outlets. The ambulance driver, a 20-year-old man, was shot in the head, and a paramedic in the passenger seat, a 21-year-old woman, was shot in the chest and arm. The driver was in critical condition and the woman was stable.
Our investigation continues into Sunday’s shootings/fire that left 2 dead, 2 critical, and 2 others injured. Complex case w/shootings at 3 scenes. Tucson PD officer responding to scene who was rammed & shot at by suspect managed to end rampage w/incredible adeptness and courage. pic.twitter.com/9J3dLFnftr
— Chris Magnus (@ChiefCMagnus) July 19, 2021
The suspect also opened fire on firefighters and neighbors trying to douse the flames, the chief said. One neighbor was shot in the head and died. A firefighter was shot in the arm, and another bullet grazed another neighbor’s head.
A “badly burned” body was found inside the home. Children who lived there and were initially missing have since been located unharmed, Sgt. Richard Richard Gradillas said Monday. He would not confirm how many children had been missing.
A police officer responding to the scene encountered the suspect a couple blocks away, the chief said. Police said the suspect rammed his SUV into the officer’s vehicle and opened fire. The officer returned fire and shot the suspect, critically wounding him, the chief said. The officer was not injured.
“This is a highly tragic, really horrific incident, with many unknowns,” Magnus said.
Investigators are still trying to piece together several details.
“We are continuing the investigation and not releasing anything additional right now,” Gradillas said.
The investigation was ongoing. It was unclear what prompted the attacks or if the suspect had a connection to the residents of the burned home.
Tucson lies roughly 115 miles (185 kilometers) southeast of Phoenix.
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ORIGINAL REPORTING:
Jamie Donnelly
The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
TUCSON, Ariz. — At least two people are dead, several have been wounded and three children are missing after a series of attacks Sunday afternoon that Tucson’s police chief called “horrific.”
The 35-year-old man police say is the attacker was in “extremely critical” condition Sunday night after a gunfight with a Tucson police officer.
The deadly attacks started about 3:45 p.m. when a house fire was reported in the 2100 block of East Irene Vista, near South Kino Parkway and East 36th Street, Police Chief Chris Magnus said Sunday night.
Soon after the fire was reported a gunman walked up to two emergency medical technicians parked nearby at Quincy Douglas Center and opened fire through the driver’s side window of the AMR ambulance company rig. The paramedic behind the wheel, a 20-year-old man, was shot in the head. He was in critical condition Sunday night.
The paramedic in the passenger seat, 21, was shot in the chest and arm. However, she was able to call for help and described the attacker and the SUV he was driving, police say. She was in stable condition Sunday night.
BREAKING: Multiple people shot, including ambulance crew, in Tucson https://t.co/fEmeHgO6v3 #abc15 pic.twitter.com/VPC875Ag7y
— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) July 19, 2021
Meanwhile, Tucson firefighters had arrived at the house fire, joining neighbors who had been trying to help douse the flames.
Soon after, the man suspected in the attack on the paramedics showed up and opened fire on the neighbors and firefighters.
One neighbor was shot in the head and died, Magnus said. A Tucson firefighter was shot in the arm, and a bullet grazed another neighbor’s head.
Firefighters called police for help and the gunman fled.
Magnus said a body was later found inside the burned home. Magnus said officials are worried because they do not know the whereabouts of three children who live at the burned house. He said anyone with information should call 911.
Magnus said he could not provide any details about the body found in the house.
A patrol officer found the alleged attacker in his SUV about two blocks away moments after the shooting at the house fire.
The driver opened fire on the police officer and rammed into his patrol car, Magnus said.
The officer, an 8-year veteran of the police department assigned to the department’s south side patrol division, shot and critically wounded the SUV driver.
The driver, Magnus said, was in “extremely critical” condition Sunday night.
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