A Tucson man Ryan Secor, age 35, is in custody after shooting an killing his fiancée Mary Blankenship. Initially Secor had reported the shooting as an attack by unknown assailants.
On November 25, 2017, at approximately 10:00 p.m., Tucson Police officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 7100 block of East Speedway Boulevard. Upon arrival, officers located Secor and Blankenship near the walking track behind the Lowe’s home improvement store. Blankenship had an obvious gunshot wound to her back and was transported by Tucson Fire personnel to Banner University Medical Center with life threatening injuries.
Secor told officers and detectives that he and Blankenship were approached by several unknown male subjects who asked them for cigarettes. When they advised that they didn’t have any, he said he heard a loud “boom” and then saw the subjects run away. Secor said he then noticed that Blankenship had been shot. Officers searched the area, but were unable to locate any suspects. A shell casing and bullet were found at the scene.
The following morning, detectives returned to the scene to search the area during daylight hours. While conducting their search, detectives located Secor sleeping in the area. Detectives spoke with Secor and learned that he was in possession of a handgun. The handgun was the same caliber as the shell casing and bullet found at the crime scene the previous night. When detectives re-interviewed Secor, he admitted that they were never approached by any male subjects on the night of the shooting. As the interview continued, detectives were able to determine that Secor was the one who had shot Blankenship. Secor advised that the shooting was an accident. Detectives arrested Secor and booked him into the Pima County Jail on Felony Aggravated Assault charges.
On the afternoon of November 26, 2017, medical personnel at the hospital advised detectives that Ms. Blankenship had died as a result of injuries she sustained from the gunshot. Detectives responded back to the Pima County Jail and charged Ryan Secor with an additional charge of Second Degree Murder.
Anyone with additional information about the shooting is asked to call 88-CRIME. You can remain anonymous.