Tucson police say they found a man who had been shot to death in an alley and that he was killed by a man whom he had assaulted and threatened with a gun.
James Alvarado, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene late Saturday north of near North Oracle and East Navajo roads, the Tucson Police Department said Monday evening.
Police described the shooter, whose name they did not release, as a victim in the incident.
Police gave the following account in a news release:
Just before 11 p.m. March 2, officers were patrolling near the 3300 block of North Oracle when they heard several gunshots. They began searching the area and were flagged down by two men near North Stone Avenue and East Navajo Road.
One of the men, a 21-year-old, had sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot injury and the other, age 20, was not injured.
While additional officers were searching the area, they found Alvarado in the alley.
Detectives learned in their investigation that the two men who flagged down police were with another acquaintance in a nearby parking lot when Alvarado and another man came up and physically assaulted the three, police said.
Alvarado showed a firearm and the three attempted to run away, but Alvarado and the other suspect chased them to the alley. Alvarado "began to assault one of the males, at which point one of the three victims discharged his firearm, striking Alvarado," the police news release said. The other suspect who was with Alvarado has not been caught, police said. Police did not release any of their names.
Detectives are asking anyone with information to call 911 or 88-CRIME; "you can remain anonymous."
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