Update: Oct. 2: According to TPD, the victim belonged to a cycling club called Tuesday Night Ride. The cyclists rode to the area of River Loop and Mountain Avenue. They proceeded westbound on the bike path. The victim encountered a male suspect in the middle of the pathway. The victim got off his bike and had an altercation with the male. According to witnesses, both the victim and the male tried to punch each other. The victim got back on his back and rode north a few feet then stopped and got off his bike. He then realized he had been stabbed. Cyclists stopped to assist the victim, provided medical intervention and called 911. The victim was stabbed on the left side of his torso.
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The Tucson Police Department announced a man has been arrested in connection with a deadly stabbing along the river path near the Diamond Street Loop next to Wetmore Road.
Officers took 26-year-old Michael Francisco into custody Wednesday morning after spotting him near Stone Avenue and the Tohono Tadai Transit Center, a press release said.
Police said Francisco ran from officers and jumped off a 40 ft. bridge into a nearby wash, but with help from the TPD Air Unit, officers chased him down and arrested him. Once detailed, he was uncooperative with officers, medical staff and even attempted to headbutt a police officer.
Detectives believe Francisco stabbed 44-year-old Enrique Mercado during a confrontation on September 24. Mercado later died from his injuries.
Francisco is now facing a charge of second-degree murder. He has been booked into the Pima County Jail.
Tucson police thanked community members and media partners for their help in the investigation.
