Pima County sheriff's deputies working off-duty at a north-side store heard gunshots behind the store Saturday and found a 15-year-old who had been fatally shot, police said Monday.
The teen, Carlos Cadena, was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving, the Tucson Police Department said in a news release, also giving the following account:
Homicide detectives learned that a group of adults and juveniles got into a physical fight behind the store, a Walmart in the 400 block of East Wetmore Road, and gunshots were fired.
Several witnesses to the shooting left the area before police arrived.
"Detectives are actively working to determine a motive and to identify a suspect as details are extremely limited at this time," police said.
Detectives are asking anyone with information or who was at the scene to call 88-CRIME; callers may remain anonymous.
Tucson has seen five homicides in 2023, one more than in 2022 at this time, police said.
Guns are now the leading cause of premature death for children. Veuer’s Tony Spitz has the details.
