The Sierra Vista Police Department has arrested three local men in connection with a drive-by shooting over the weekend.
22-year-old Rashawn Avery, 41-year-old Jaime Olivas and 48-year-old Joseph Buchanan were all arrested.
Police say the armed robbery happened on Saturday night and the drive-by shooting took place Sunday afternoon. SVPD learned the incidents were related.
SVPD says the armed robbery happened at a hotel in the 1800 block of East Wilcox Drive. Police say two suspects reportedly took cash and property from three Sierra Vista residents at gunpoint.
Witnesses told police on Sunday several men in a red Chevy truck fired rounds at people fleeing on foot in the area of a west side apartment complex in the 100 block of North 7th Street.
SVPD says there was an apparent exchange of gunfire between the groups and several residences in the area were struck by bullets. No injuries were reported from the gunfire.
Detectives later learned the exchange of gunfire was a retaliatory action resulting from the armed robbery.
Authorities later located the red Chevy truck Sunday night when detectives served a search warrant in the 1100 block of Carmelita Drive. Detectives also obtained other evidence of the drive-by shooting during their search.
Following the search, Olivas was arrested and booked into Cochise County Jail on two counts of drive-by shooting, two counts of endangerment, and seven counts of disorderly conduct with a deadly weapon. He may also face charges of attempted first-degree murder. He is being held on an $80,000 bond.
Detectives from SVPD also performed a search warrant in an apartment complex in the 600 block on Charles Drive. Authorities recovered a gun and other evidence of the drive-by shooting.
After the apartment search, Buchanan was arrested and booked into the Cochise County Jail on two counts of drive-by shooting, two counts of endangerment, and seven counts of disorderly conduct with a deadly weapon. He also may face charges of attempted first-degree murder. Buchanan is being held on a $90,000 bond.
On Tuesday morning detectives, with the assistance of special agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals, conducted surveillance at multiple locations on the west side of Sierra Vista.
Authorities then performed a high-risk stop on a car in the area of 7th Street and Wilcox Drive.
Police say Avery is a person of interest in both the armed robbery and shooting and was arrested.
SVPD says Avery was in possession of marijuana and a firearm.
Avery is currently charged with misconduct with weapons for being a felon in possession of a firearm, misconduct with weapons in connection with a drug felony, and possession of marijuana. He was booked into Cochise County Jail.
Detectives from SVPD performed two additional search warrants at apartments in the 500 block of North 7th Street and 100 block of North 7th Street Tuesday afternoon and obtained evidence believed to be tied to this investigation.
