Witness describes Tucson mass shooting that left multiple people critically hurt

People who were downtown in the early morning hours of July 19 were forced to run for safety after a fight between two groups escalated into gunfire, leaving nine people wounded and a suspected shooter injured in a confrontation with Tucson police. The shooting happened in the 100 block of East Congress Street, an area where residents, visitors and people working in the downtown entertainment district gather late into weekend nights. Ten people in all, including the suspect, were critically injured.

The incident began at about 2 a.m., when officers assigned to patrol downtown heard gunshots. Police said the confrontation involved two groups who knew one another. A man was seen fleeing the area, and officers gave him several commands to stop. One officer then fired at the running suspect, striking him. The man was taken into custody, received first aid and was transported to a hospital with life threatening injuries. No officers were hurt.

A witness, Anais Camacho, said she was outside Empire Pizza when she saw what appeared to be a fight developing. She described one man acting aggressively while two others tried to hold back someone they knew, apparently attempting to prevent the confrontation from becoming physical. Camacho said the man then lifted his shirt, a movement that led her to believe he had a gun. She shouted for people to get away, grabbed her cousin and ran around a corner. She said the gunfire began shortly afterward.

Police said the wounded people suffered gunshot injuries primarily to their extremities. All of the victims were taken to a nearby hospital, though authorities had not released their identities or provided updated information about their conditions. The suspect and the nine victims remained unidentified in the available information. The circumstances that led to the fight, the reason the shooting began and any possible motive had not been disclosed.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said nine people had been shot and described the episode as another serious act of gun violence in the city. In her statement, she said firefighters and police officers acted quickly and that medical personnel stabilized the victims before transporting them for treatment. She expressed hope that they would recover, while also emphasizing that the consequences extend beyond those physically wounded. Families, friends, witnesses, first responders and the broader community can all carry the effects of a shooting in a crowded public place, including a lasting damage to their sense of safety.

The mayor also used the shooting to call attention to gun access and Arizona’s gun safety laws. She said lawmakers could do more through measures such as universal background checks, extreme risk laws and funding for violence prevention. Her statement framed the incident as a public safety concern affecting more than one downtown block, arguing that residents should be able to spend time in public places, including schools, homes, shopping centers and houses of worship, without fear of gun violence.

The shooting has renewed differing views about safety downtown. Eric Taylor, a Tucson resident, said he continues to spend time in the area and considers it safe, while acknowledging that one person’s actions can affect everyone nearby. Roxanne Brown said downtown does not feel as safe to her as it once did and pointed to frequent fights. Frank Magos of the Tucson Police Department said weekend nights bring a large, active crowd to the district, which is why additional patrol officers were already assigned there. Darrell Hussman, president of the Tucson Police Officers Association, said the goal is for people to enjoy downtown, return home safely and come back the following weekend without a repeat of the violence.

The investigation has been divided among several agencies because a police officer shot the suspect. The Pima Regional Critical Incident Team is leading the criminal investigation into the mass casualty event, while the Pima County Sheriff’s Department is examining the officer involved shooting. Tucson police will review whether any department policies were violated. That process is separate from determining what led to the initial gunfire and whether additional criminal charges will follow.

Authorities have asked anyone who witnessed the shooting or recorded video to contact 88 CRIME. The identities of the victims and suspect, as well as further details about their medical conditions, had not been released. For downtown workers, businesses, residents and people who were out that night, the investigation will determine how a fight involving people who apparently knew one another became gunfire in a crowded entertainment district, and how a police response ended with the suspect also critically wounded.