A foot chase leads to a shooting
Reporter: Craig Smith
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - A knock on the door early Sunday morning led to a 911 call and a police shooting that left a teenager wounded.
It happened in a neighborhood near Drexel and Midvale Park.
It was a shocking Sunday morning for neighbors here with a police foot chase and a 17 year old teen wounded.
"They went through this area right here and they jumped this wall right here..."
Tania Preciado pointed out the path the suspect and officer took. She knew there was trouble when she heard someone run next to her house and start begging her dogs to be quiet.
She says her husband heard a Taser go off, then heard gunshots---all in a neighborhood that seems to her to be headed for more trouble.
"It's ugly. I hate it. Now we're seeing tagging around here. We see tagging and everything around here. It's ugly. It's horrible. It wasn't like that before."
Police say it began with someone banging on a door at 6:30 am---a common tactic before a break in; but instead of opening up, the woman inside called up 911.
As soon as police arrive they see two men walking down the street. As soon as those men see police, they split up. One goes down down Bathurst Drive, another stays on South Abbottsford. Police decide these are people they want to talk to."
But police say when Officer Jesus Arriola tried a conversation with the man on Abbottsford, he got a footrace instead.
Sgt Chris Widmer says when Officer Arriola saw the man reach for something in his waist band, he fired his Taser. It didn't stop the man.
Sgt Widmer says, "Then he turned around and faced officer Arriola with a handgun and he began to raise it towards the officer."
The officer drops the Taser, goes for his gun and fires eight times. Two hit the man, one in each arm. He's still able to run home. Police arrest him at the hospital.
Edelyn Jaucian still thinks of the neighborhood as a quiet place; too quiet for what happened Sunday morning.
She says, "It's a bit scary because nothing like this has happened the past three years my parents have lived in this area and to have my house taped off it was a little nerve-wracking."
The 17 year old will be charged as an adult---probably with aggravated assault on a police officer. We may be able to find out more about him after he gets out of the hospital.
Police do not plan to charge the 20 year they also found in the neighborhood.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.