Law & order briefs

Deadly domestic violence attack

on northwest side brings arrest

Deputies arrested a man after finding another man dead, and a woman wounded, Friday morning in a home on the Tucson area’s northwest side.

Steven Leska, 46, was arrested on suspicion of murder, domestic violence, attempted murder, domestic violence kidnapping and domestic violence sexual assault, said Deputy Ryan Inglett, a Pima County Sheriff’s Department spokesman.

Leska was booked into the Pima County jail Friday night, Inglett said.

At 9 a.m. Friday, deputies went to a house in the 1900 block of West Harran Circle after a 911 call that a burglary was occurring there, said Inglett. The neighborhood is near West Orange Grove Road and North La Cholla Boulevard.

When deputies arrived, they found that Leska had forced his way into the home of a woman with whom he had a previous relationship, said Inglett.

Also in the home was James Kozar III, 50. Leska is accused of attacking the woman and Kozar, Inglett said. Kozar was pronounced dead at the scene.

Deputies found Leska on the property and he was taken into custody.

The woman was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Inglett said.

Authorities did not say if a weapon was used in the attack.

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

Carmen Duarte

Woman killed in motorcycle crash identified as Ana Lisa Ordonez, 36

A woman killed in a motorcycle crash Friday evening on Tucson’s south side has been identified as Ana Lisa Ordonez, 36, police said Saturday.

The crash occurred around 6 p.m. at the intersection of West Calle Aragon and South Santa Clara.

Sgt. Kimberly Bay, a police spokeswoman, gave the following account:

The motorcycle, driven by Rene Abeyta, 36, and carrying Ordonez as a passenger, hit a pickup that was making a turn at the intersection. Ordonez was pronounced dead at the scene. Neither she nor Abeyta were wearing helmets.

Abeyta and the driver of the truck were taken to Banner — University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

“Officers noted signs and symptoms of impairment on the driver of the motorcycle. A DUI investigation was conducted,” Bay said in a news release.

Abeyta was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and two counts of aggravated assault with serious physical injury.

Hannah Gaber