Police tape via Matt Rourke/ AP Photo.
Two people have died and at least five others were injured in a shooting rampage in Tucson, Arizona. The Tucson Police Department said the suspect, a 35-year old male, set a residence on fire on Sunday evening.
EMS crews responding to the fire were staging at a park about a mile away. Authorities said the suspect drove up to the ambulance and shot one EMT in the head and the other in the arm. He then reportedly returned to the house fire and began shooting firefighters and neighbors battling the blaze.
Tucson Police Department Police Chief Chris Magnus went on to explain, “both a highly tragic, really horrific incident with many unknowns at this time that’s going to involve a lengthy and complex investigation.”
Sunday afternoon #TucsonFire responded to calls of a house fire in the 2100 block of E. Irene Vista. During the response a Tucson Fire Department Captain received a gunshot wound to his arm. He has been released from the hospital, is in good condition, and is recovering…. pic.twitter.com/FtvLZSujIw
— Tucson Fire Department (@TucsonFireDept) July 19, 2021
One witness who requested to remain anonymous described the scene.
“I see him loading again. I even told him no, stop,” he expressed. “He kept on loading and kept on shooting. He was shooting at the cops too.”
A fire captain was also struck in the arm, but remained in stable condition. One neighbor was shot in the head and died, while another was grazed.
The three missing children associated with the burned house have been located and are safe. We will have a press briefing with updates about this case today at 4 p.m. Our thoughts are with the AMR EMTs, one who remains in critical condition.
— Chris Magnus (@ChiefCMagnus) July 19, 2021
According to reports, the suspect then sped off in his SUV and rammed into a police cruiser at a nearby intersection. The assailant reportedly opened fire on the police officer, who then shot back and disabled the man.
The suspect was apprehended and transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition. A charred body was recovered from the home and several children living at the residence were missing until police reported their safety on Monday morning.
Source: One America News Network
