An early morning mass shooting in downtown Tucson, Arizona, left at least nine people injured in what the city’s mayor called a “senseless act of gun violence.”
Police said patrol officers were in the downtown area at about 2 a.m. when they heard gunshots in the 100 block of East Congress Street and responded on foot.
According to a statement, officers encountered a male suspect running from the scene. After giving multiple commands, a uniformed officer shot and injured the suspect.
The unidentified suspect was taken into custody, treated at the scene, and transported to a local hospital in “life-threatening condition.”
The police stated that multiple people suffered gunshot wounds, mostly to their extremities, before the suspect was shot and apprehended.
Officers provided immediate medical aid before Tucson Fire Department personnel transported all victims to local hospitals for treatment, police said.
No officers were injured.
The Pima Regional Critical Incident Team has been activated to investigate the incident. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is the lead agency investigating the officer-involved shooting.
“The Tucson Police Department will be conducting a separate but parallel investigation to determine if any policy violations occurred,” the police stated.
“As is standard practice in all officer-involved shootings, all findings will be forwarded to the Pima County Attorney’s Office for review once the investigation is complete.”
Investigators are asking anyone with information or video of the incident to contact 88-CRIME and reference Pima County Sheriff’s Department case number 260719048.
Callers may remain anonymous.
In a statement on social media, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said the incident left nine people injured in what she described as “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,” the mayor wrote.
Romero attributed the incident to “easy access to guns and Arizona’s weak gun safety laws [that] have continued to put us all at risk.”
She called on state lawmakers to do more, from requiring universal background checks and extreme risk laws to increasing funding for violence prevention.
“For the victims, you have my prayers for healing and a speedy recovery,” Romero said. “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.”
Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), wife of U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and a gun control advocate, posted on social media that she was heartbroken by the shooting.
“Too many lives have been changed forever because of America’s gun violence crisis, in my hometown and across the nation,” Giffords said. “Mark and I are grateful for the bravery of Tucson’s first responders as we await more information and hold all those impacted in our hearts.”
On Jan. 8, 2011, Giffords survived a shooting that killed six people and injured 19 others during a constituent meeting in Tucson.
The gunman, 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.
