Man wanted in shooting of deputy captured by Tucson police

A 39-year-old man accused of shooting a deputy during a foot chase last week on Tucson’s southwest side was apprehended early Sunday, authorities said.

Gabriel Angel Altamirano was taken into custody by the Tucson Police Department, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said in a short news briefing.

About 2:30 a.m. Sunday, a sheriff’s deputy was informed that Altamirano was in the area of West Irvington Road and South Midvale Park, Nanos said. Police located him about 6 a.m. and were able to capture Altamirano “without incident,” Nanos said.

Altamirano was taken to the hospital for a medical check but was expected to be booked into jail later Sunday, Nanos said.

Altamirano will likely be facing a number of charges, including attempted murder and domestic violence, Nanos said.

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

Altamirano has been convicted of drug charges in the past, court records filed in Pima County Superior Court show. But Nanos on Sunday said he did not know if drug use was a factor in the incidents that led to the shooting of the deputy.

Altamirano is one of the two men authorities have said were involved in the “ambush” of the deputy and evaded capture since he ran away from the shooting scene Tuesday in the 5000 block of West Jeffrey Road, near West Valencia Road and South Camino de Oeste.

The second man was taken into custody soon after the shooting but has not been identified.

The wounded deputy, Augustine Gonzalez, was hospitalized after suffering an injury to his calf. He was released from the hospital Wednesday morning, Nanos said.

The incident began about 10 a.m. Aug. 13. Investigators say Altamirano threatened to kill a former girlfriend during an argument. A sibling later told the Star Altamirano got “rough,” waved the gun, made threats and tried to hit her with a car before fleeing.

About noon, the deputy spotted Altamirano’s vehicle. Altamirano drove off but crashed into a car. He and his companion then ran away and the deputy gave chase, according to previous accounts given by Nanos.

At some point during the foot chase, Altamirano hid in some bushes and shot at the deputy, striking Gonzalez in the leg, Nanos previously said.