Two men killed in an early morning shootout were believed to have been committing a home invasion when they were shot by someone at the residence, Tucson police said.
A third man, believed to be a friend of someone who lived at the home, was injured in the gunfire, police said.
Detectives don't think this was a random home invasion, but believe it to be gang-related, said Sgt. Pete Dugan, a police spokesman.
Shortly after midnight police received several 911 calls about gunshots in the 4600 block of East Montecito Street, Dugan said.
When officers arrived in the area, near East 22nd Street and South Swan Road, they were flagged down to a specific residence where they found three men with gunshot wounds, Dugan said.
Two of the men were found lying in the front yard and were pronounced dead at the scene. The third man was given first aid by officers until Tucson Fire Department arrived to continue treatment and transport the man to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, Dugan said.
The two men killed have been identified as 20-year-old Eugenio Pesqueira and 21-year-old Jose Pichardo.
Witness statements and evidence collected from the scene have led detectives to believe Pesqueira and Pichardo were at the residence to commit a home invasion. Both were armed with guns, which they pointed at residents and visitors who were outside of the house, until one of them pulled out a firearm and an exchange of gunfire took place, Dugan said.
The man shot and injured was visiting a friend at the home when the incident took place. He was in stable but critical condition.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME.
