Photos: The Tison Gang rampage in Arizona, 1978
On July 30, 1978, Gary Tison and Randy Greenawalt walked out of Arizona State Prison in Florence after a daring escape staged by Tison's three sons. Six innocent people died at the hands of the Tison Gang. A massive manhunt in Arizona ended on Aug. 11, 1978, when the gang ran a police road block near Casa Grande. During the shootout, Donald Tison died and Randy Greenawalt, Ricky Tison and Raymond Tison were captured. But Gary Tison got away. He eluded law enforcement for days. His body was found in the desert on Aug. 22.
"The Last Rampage," a film based on the crime spree, opened Sept. 22, 2017.
All photos © Arizona Daily Star or Tucson Citizen, where applicable
Tison Gang
Caption from Aug. 11, 1978: Bullet holes marked the end of a 12-day manhunt fro convicted killers Gary Tison and Randy Greenawalt, and Tison's sons, Donald, Raymond and Rick, who helped the convicted murderers escape from Arizona State Prison at Florence. At 2:02 this morning this stolen Ford van ran two roadblocks about 17 miles southwest of Casa Grande. Shots were fired and the driver, Donald Tison, was killed. His brothers and Greenawalt were captured. The father, Gary Tison, escaped again into the desert.
Tison Gang
Booking photos of the Tison Gang, which rampaged across Arizona in 1978. From left, Gary Tison, Randy Greenawalt, Raymond Tison, Ricky Tison, Donald Joe Tison.
Tison Gang
A multi-agency roadblock on State Route 85 during the search for Arizona prison escapee Gary Tison near Casa Grande, Arizona, on Aug. 15, 1978.
Tison Gang
Scene of shoot out and crash of the van carrying the Tison Gang near Arizona City in August, 1978.
Tison Gang
Scene of the shootout and crash carrying the Tison Gang near Arizona City in August, 1978.
Tison Gang
1978 photo of Ricky and Raymond Tison (in PCSD shirts) and Randy Greenawalt (glasses) after their arrest from a three state killing spree.
Tison Gang
Weary Arizona Dept. of Public Safety officers rest during the search for Arizona prison escapee Gary Tison near Casa Grande, Arizona, on Aug. 15, 1978.
Tison Gang
Dozens of law enforcement vehicles at a staging area for the search for Arizona prison escapee Gary Tison near Casa Grande, Arizona, on Aug. 15, 1978.
Tison Gang
The search for Arizona prison escapee Gary Tison near Casa Grande, Arizona, on Aug. 15, 1978.
Tison Gang
Law enforcement and volunteers at a briefing during the search for Arizona prison escapee Gary Tison near Casa Grande, Arizona, on Aug. 15, 1978.
Tison Gang
The Arizona Dept. of Public Safety helicopter shadows searchers looking for Arizona prison escapee Gary Tison near Casa Grande, Arizona, on Aug. 15, 1978.
Tison Gang
Law enforcement officers search vehicles at a roadblock in August, 1978, during the hunt for fugitive escapee Gary Tison and the Tison gang.
Tison Gang
Arizona Dept. Public Safety alert on Ricky, Raymond and Donald Tison after their escape from the Arizona State Prison in July, 1978.
Tison Gang
A roadblock during the search for Arizona prison escapee Gary Tison near Casa Grande, Arizona, on Aug. 15, 1978.
Tison gang
Two single engine aircraft staged on the highway during the search for Arizona prison escapee Gary Tison near Casa Grande, Arizona, on Aug. 15, 1978.
Tison Gang
Hot, exhausted deputies from the Pima County Sheriff's Dept. during the search for Arizona prison escapee Gary Tison near Casa Grande, Arizona, on Aug. 15, 1978.
Tison gang
The Arizona Dept. of Public Safety helicopter lifts from the staging area during the search for Arizona prison escapee Gary Tison near Casa Grande, Arizona, on Aug. 15, 1978.
Tison gang
Law enforcement officers walk a line during the search for Arizona prison escapee Gary Tison near Casa Grande, Arizona, on Aug. 15, 1978.
Tison Gang
Pima County Sheriff's deputies during search for fugitive prison escapee Gary Tison near Arizona City in August, 1978.
Tison Gang
Ricky Wayne Tison after capture in August, 1978.
Tison Gang
Captured fugitives Rick Tison (second from left), Raymond Tison and Randy Greenawalt are led to court after their arrest on Aug. 11, 1978.
Tison gang
The spot where Gary Tison's body was found in the desert near Chuichu, Aug. 22, 1978, eleven days after a shootout with the gang.
Tison Gang
Funeral for fugitive Gary Tison, who died in the Arizona desert in August, 1978.
James Clarke
Author and University of Arizona Distinguished Professor in the Department of Political Science Professor James Clarke in 2005. He wrote "The Last Rampage" about the Tison Gang's murderous spree in 1978.
Frank Reyes
Pinal County Sheriff Frank Reyes (pictured in 1997) was the sheriff when the Tison Gang went on a three-state killing spree. He stands at the medium security prison complex where the three Tison sons helped their father Randy Tison escape, they literally walked out at this spot.
Perry Holmes
Sheriff officer Perry Holmes (pictured in 1997) shot and killed Donald Tison at this spot on Route 15 south of Eloy. Donald was driving the van in which the Tison gang was arrested along with Randy Greenawalt. The oldest Tison fled into the desert at this site and was found dead 10 days later about 300 yards from where the van stopped.
The Last Rampage
Robert Patrick as Gary Tison in The Last Rampage from Epic Pictures, which opens Sept. 22, 2017. The film follows the Arizona prison escape and murderous trek of the Tison Gang in 1978.
The Last Rampage
Actor Bruce Davison in The Last Rampage from Epic Pictures, which opens Sept. 22, 2017. The film follows the Arizona prison escape and murderous trek of the Tison Gang in 1978.
The Last Rampage
Actress Heather Graham in The Last Rampage from Epic Pictures, which opens Sept. 22, 2017. The film follows the Arizona prison escape and murderous trek of the Tison Gang in 1978.
The Last Rampage
The Last Rampage from Epic Pictures opens Sept. 22, 2017. The film follows the Arizona prison escape and murderous trek of the Tison Gang in 1978.
The Last Rampage
The Last Rampage from Epic Pictures opens Sept. 22, 2017. The film follows the Arizona prison escape and murderous trek of the Tison Gang in 1978.
The Last Rampage
The Last Rampage from Epic Pictures opens Sept. 22, 2017. The film follows the Arizona prison escape and murderous trek of the Tison Gang in 1978.
The Last Rampage
The Last Rampage from Epic Pictures opens Sept. 22, 2017. The film follows the Arizona prison escape and murderous trek of the Tison Gang in 1978.
The Last Rampage
The Last Rampage from Epic Pictures opens Sept. 22, 2017. The film follows the Arizona prison escape and murderous trek of the Tison Gang in 1978.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
Read the story of the Tison Gang as it unfolded in the pages of the Arizona Daily Star in this new ebook.
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