Armed Tucson Man Killed In Officer-Involved Shooting

The Tucson Police Department is actively investigating an officer-involved shooting that took the life of 53-year-old David Judge on Wednesday morning on Tucson’s South Side.

On July 31, 2018, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Tucson Police officers were dispatched to a residence in the 6100 block of South Earp Wash Lane for a report of a male suspect firing a rifle inside of the home. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a woman outside who advised that her son, David Judge, was the one firing the rifle. She told officers that he was still inside and that no one else was in the residence.

Officers attempted to contact Judge utilizing a loud speaker (PA System), but he was not responding. Nearby homes were then evacuated as a precautionary measure. Members of the Tucson Police SWAT Team and Tucson Police Hostage Negotiations Unit responded to assist. Negotiators were able to contact Judge by phone, but he was refusing to talk and continually hung up on the officers. After hours of unsuccessful attempts on the phone, he exited the residence just after midnight on Aug 1, armed with two handguns.

A SWAT officer on scene fired his patrol rifle at Judge, striking him multiple times.

He was pronounced deceased on scene. No officers were injured during the incident.

Detectives from the Tucson Police Department Violent Crimes Section and sergeants with the Office of Professional Standards Unit responded to continue the investigation. Detectives with the Violent Crimes Section are conducting the criminal portion of the investigation. The Office of Professional Standards is conducting a separate, but parallel administrative investigation to examine the actions of department personnel. This is standard protocol in all officer-involved shootings. Additionally, representatives from the department’s Critical Incident Review Board (CIRB) will evaluate the response to this incident.

The officer involved in the shooting was Detective David Ortiz, a 13-year-veteran of the Tucson Police Department.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 88-CRIME.

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