Murder suspect killed near UA
A murder suspect died yesterday evening after he led police on a high-speed chase near campus, officers said.
The Tucson Police Department was conducting surveillance on the man's house near North Stone Avenue and North Sixth Avenue when the unnamed man drove off in his white sport-utility vehicle, said TPD Lt. Vicki Reza.
The suspect then led police on a high-speed chase until he crashed his SUV into a pole on Mountain Avenue north of East Lee Street, Reza said.
The man then ran from police into the alley and backyards of nearby houses, Reza said.
Ashley Connors, an education junior, witnessed the chase in her backyard.
"There were literally a dozen cops surrounding our house," Connors said. "I thought it was a SWAT team doing a drug bust or something. It seemed to be this horrendous ordeal."
Connors said police chased the man through her yard and into her neighbor's yard. The suspect tripped and dropped a gun he was carrying, Connors said.
The gun went off and the man was shot, police said.
The suspect was rushed to University Medical Center where he died, Reza said.
Nolan Dean, a business junior, lives in the neighborhood where the incident occurred and said he was surprised about the whole situation.
"Our neighborhood is pretty nice so I'm not worried about things like this happening," Dean said "But if this is a reoccurring thing then of course I'd be scared."
TPD officer Lisa Peasley said she does not know if students in the neighborhood should be worried because she does not know why the suspect was in the area.
"Without knowing his involvement, I don't know the potential risk," Peasley said. "I don't know if it could potentially be a future problem or if it was just a freak accident."
Carly Babins, a student who lives in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred, said she is not afraid.
"Mountain is a main street," said Babins, a family studies and human development major. "It could've happened anywhere."