A man shot and killed in a confrontation with police last month at Tohono Chul Park was a former employee at the popular venue who damaged the property and fired at officers, a news release from the multi-agency team that investigates local use-of-force incidents says.
The incident started about 7 p.m. April 28, when Oro Valley police responded to reported gunshots near the private 49-acre property at 7366 North Paseo Del Norte, west of North Oracle Road near West Ina Road.
The first officer at the scene parked outside a closed gate then began to search the property.
Several gunshots were fired at the officer as he approached a pickup truck that had shattered windows near the parkโs Garden Bistro, said the release Tuesday from the Pima Regional Critical Incident Team.
Additional Oro Valley officers had arrived when a gunman exited the building and ignored repeated commands to drop his weapon. The gunman was shot multiple times after he โbrought his hands together in a manner perceived as an imminent threat,โ the release said.
Life-saving efforts by the officers started after the shooting scene was deemed safe.
Alfred Lopez-Minor, 31, who last worked at Tohono Chul in December 2024, died at the scene. A semi-automatic handgun was recovered near his body, the release said.
The Oro Valley officers involved in the shooting have been identified as: Manny Guerrero, a 24.5-year veteran; Kristofer Brandstrom, a 6-year-veteran; and Matthew Farmer, a 2.5-year veteran.
None of the officers was wounded.
The PRCIT team is handling the criminal investigation and will present its findings to the Pima County Attorneyโs Office, which is standard procedure.
The Oro Valley Police department will conduct a simultaneous investigation to ensure department procedures were followed, the release said.
