The man fatally shot by a deputy at a high-end Tucson golf resort Friday night was identified Monday as 36-year-old Steven Wickert.
Pima County sheriff's officials said Monday that Wickert assaulted Deputy Travis Rice, 22, in a dark stairwell at The Lodge at Ventana Canyon on Tucson's north side at about 11:30 p.m.
The deputy had been called to the resort on a theft call, but determined that it was a case of domestic violence involving Wickert and his girlfriend. The two had been at the resort for an event related to the girlfriend's job as a real estate agent, officials said.
After learning that Wickert had taken his girlfriend's purse and cellphone Rice began searching for him, officials said. Rice found Wickert sitting in a dark stairwell on the property and ordered him to stay put as he called for back up help.
Officials said Wickert began assaulting Rice and struck him on the head, which caused the deputy to fall back and hit his head on a railing. The deputy briefly lost consciousness.
When Rice regained consciousness, Wickert had placed him in a choke hold. The deputy, fearing he would black out again, fired his weapon, striking Wickert once in the head.
Wickert was taken to Banner-University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Rice was also taken for medical treatment where it was determined he had suffered a concussion, officials said. He graduated from the sheriff's academy in May and has been a deputy since September. He began at the Pima County Sheriff's Department as a corrections officer in 2012.
He has been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the shooting investigation.
