Suicidal Man Killed In South Lawn Cemetery

The Tucson Police Department is investigating a suicide by cop that took place on Friday evening at South Lawn Cemetery.

On May 26, 2017, around 6:30 p.m., the Tucson Police Department received a 911 call from a man at the Cemetery saying he was suicidal and had a gun. Officers including those with training in crisis intervention, the K-9 Unit and the Air Unit responded to the cemetery. The Air Unit was first on scene and guided the officers to the male who was located in the southwest part of the cemetery. The officers attempted communication with the man through the use of cell phones and the public address system. Additional officers worked to evacuate the citizens visiting at the cemetery.

At one point, the man threw his cell phone down and began to approach the officers with a gun to his head. The officers gave multiple commands for the man to put down the gun, but the male refused and lowered the gun in the direction of the officers. Two officers discharged their weapons, striking the male. Officers immediately began rendering first aid using their Individual First Aid Kits (IFAK) and summoned paramedics. Members from the Tucson Fire Department responded to the scene and assumed treatment of the man. However, the male succumbed to injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene.

No officers were injured during the incident.

Detectives from the Homicide Unit and the Office of Professional Standards responded to continue the investigation. As is standard practice in all officer involved shootings, the Homicide Unit is conducting a criminal investigation into the incident. Additionally, the Office of Professional Standards is conducting a separate and parallel administrative investigation to examine the actions of department personnel in response to this incident.

The detectives were able to later determine the gun used by the male was a BB gun. The male has been identified as 34-year-old Joseph Zimmerman.

The officers involved in the shooting are Officer Francisco Magos, a ten and a half year veteran of the Tucson Police Department and Officer Timothy Anderson, a six year veteran of the Tucson Police Department.

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