Sheriff: Deputy shot man during assault

A deputy was involved in a fight “for his life” at a Tucson golf resort Friday night when he shot and killed the man who had him in a chokehold, said Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos.

The man, who was shot once in the head by Deputy Travis Rice, was identified Monday as Steven Wickert, 36, who had an active duty Army National Guard identification.

During a news conference Monday, Nanos said Wickert assaulted Rice, 22, in a dark stairwell at The Lodge at Ventana Canyon on Tucson’s north side at about 11:30 p.m. Friday.

The deputy, who arrived at 11:16 p.m., had been called to the resort at 11:08 p.m. on a theft call, but determined it was a case of verbal domestic violence involving Wickert and his girlfriend. The incident ended up with Wickert stealing the woman’s purse and cellphone, Nanos said.

The two had been at the resort for a Realty Executives event — attended by about 300 people — related to the girlfriend’s job in real estate, officials said. Witnesses told investigators that Wickert had “lots of drinks that night and day,” Nanos said.

After learning that Wickert had taken his girlfriend’s purse and cellphone, Rice began searching for him. The deputy found Wickert sitting in a dark stairwell on the property and ordered him to stay put as he called for backup, said Nanos.

Nanos said Wickert told the deputy that he was “not a real cop,” and that he (Wickert) “was with the Army.” Nanos 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, Nanos said.

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When Rice regained consciousness, Wickert “was on top of him with a strangulation hold,” Nanos said.

He said the deputy tried to break the chokehold but could not, and fearing he would black out again, fired his weapon, striking Wickert once in the head. The officer then used his radio to report he was involved in a shooting and called for emergency assistance, Nanos said.

Wickert, an electrician by trade, was taken to Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, where he was pronounced dead.

Rice was also taken for medical treatment where it was determined he had suffered a concussion, Nanos said.

This type of incident occurs in moments, Nanos said, adding that Rice was defending himself. He said Wickert, who was 6 feet tall and weighed more than 200 pounds, was bigger than Rice, who is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds.

He said Rice 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, which will be presented to the Pima County Attorney’s Office for review, Nanos said.