5 more wounded in shooting at University House apartments

A Tucson woman was killed and five others injured yesterday morning after several rounds of shots were fired in a west side student apartment complex.

The six were among several people attending a gathering in front of Building 19 at University House, 2525 W. Anklam Road, at about 1:15 a.m. when someone fired shots into the crowd, said Sgt. Judy Altieri, Tucson Police Department spokeswoman.

The woman, Sallie Garcia, 19, was rushed privately to St. Mary's Hospital, where she died. The five others, four males, ages 20 and 21, and one female, 18, were wounded. Both 21-year-olds were seriously injured, one with life-threatening injuries, Altieri said. One of the two 20-year-olds also sustained serious injuries; the other had a graze wound. The wounded woman also suffered serious, but non-life threatening, injuries, she said.

Altieri cannot release the names of any of the wounded until TPD finds out the exact motive of the incident. Tucson Police officials did not know whether the unidentified five were UA students.

Battalion Chief Randy Ogden, spokesman for the Tucson Fire Department, said the injuries among the five consisted of shots to the head, hip, back and chest. He said one of the injured was transported privately to St. Mary's Hospital, three others were transported by paramedics to University Medical Center and the other was taken to Tucson Medical Center.

Altieri said there were several parties going on in the complex at the time of the shooting, with people moving from gathering to gathering.

The complex, which is split into two parts, is accessible to residents and visitors through two gated entrances.

Journalism senior Cara Haley, who lives a few buildings away on the side where the incident occurred, said the night was fairly quiet when she got home at about 1 a.m. until suddenly the area was swarming with police and fire personnel. She said there were only small groups of people gathered in front of buildings.

"People were coming back from the bars, with little gatherings; nothing unusual for a Saturday night," she said.

According to Mike Rocque, a recent UA graduate, the other side of the complex was completely packed with at least 400 people.

"The whole basketball court was just filled with people. I had a hard time parking when I got there. People were parking illegally all over the place," he said.

Then, at about 1:15 a.m. he heard a series of cracking sounds.

"I was in my living room and kind of thought, ÎWere those fireworks going off?'" he said.

Rocque, who has lived in the complex since August, said he has never seen a gathering that big. However, he said the problem could have been quelled if entrance past the electronic gates was better patrolled.

"They need to have someone man those gates. If they had a security guard, maybe they would work," he said.

The manager of University House, could not be reached for comment yesterday afternoon.

Anyone with any information on yesterday's incident should call 911 or 88-CRIME, and can remain anonymous.