Man Killed In Shoot Out With Tucson Police On East Side

The Tucson Police Department is currently investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Wednesday evening on the northeast side of Tucson.

On October 18, 2017, at approximately 9:40 p.m., officers responded to the 2400 block of North Pantano Road for a report of an armed robbery with multiple gunshots fired. Upon arrival, officers determined that the shooting took place in the northeast parking lot of East Tanque Verde Road and North Pantano Road in front of “Desert Sports & Fitness”. An off duty Tucson Police Officer was at the location when the shooting occurred. That officer immediately began moving citizens into the business for their safety and locked the doors. Responding officers located the victim and multiple witnesses. The victim advised he had been assaulted and robbed at gunpoint but was not struck by any gunfire. The suspects fled the parking lot before officers arrived.

As additional officers were responding, officers on scene were providing suspect descriptions over the radio. An additional off duty officer in the area was listening to the call and observed a suspect matching one of the descriptions running westbound on Tanque Verde Road toward the “Auto Car Wash” (7811 E. Tanque Verde Rd.). As officers approached the car wash on foot, the suspect fired directly at them with a shotgun. The suspect then ran to an unmarked police vehicle in the same lot and got in to the driver’s seat, but no keys were in the vehicle. After a short time, the suspect exited the vehicle with the shotgun in his hand. He immediately began firing rounds in the direction of the officers on scene. Officers returned fire and the suspect was struck multiple times. Officers rendered first-aid to the suspect, however he was pronounced deceased at the scene. Two officers sustained minor abrasions during the incident and were treated at the scene.

The second suspect involved fled in a vehicle. A description of the vehicle and license plate were obtained and broadcast citywide over the police radio. Officers were able to locate the vehicle in the 5600 block of East 1st Street and a traffic stop was conducted. The driver was detained, but eventually released without charges.

Based on information and evidence collected at the scene, detectives were able to determine that the suspect used ambush style tactics to engage the officers as they approached the car wash. In addition to the shotgun he was carrying, detectives located a handgun where he was hiding in the car wash. The suspect took the handgun from the victim during the armed robbery.

The deceased suspect has been identified as 35-year-old Daniel Spear. Next of kin was notified.

The officers who discharged their firearms are as follows:

  • Officer Nathaniel Foster a 10-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department
  • Officer Rafael Rodriguez a 6-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department
  • Officer Carter Wingate a 4-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department
  • Officer Matthew Kosmider a 3-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department
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