TUCSON – Tucson Police have identified two suspects in the shooting death of 18-year-old Tyler Thomas. Detectives charged 17-year-old Troy Hughes and 17-year-old James I. Schuermann with 1st degree felony murder, armed robbery and aggravated robbery.
According to Tucson Police, the three met to conduct a drug transaction on the afternoon of April 7, 2020.
On April 7, officers were dispatched to the parking lot of 8140 S. Houghton Road (Northwest corner of S. Houghton Rd. & E. Rita Rd.) for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers Thomas in the parking lot with obvious signs of gunshot trauma. He was pronounced deceased on scene.
Detectives were able to determine that two different groups of individuals met at the parking lot. The two groups know each other, but there is an on-going feud between them. Both groups got into a vehicle together and while seated, a struggle ensued. At least one individual from each group was armed and during the struggle shots were fired inside the vehicle. Thomas was struck multiple times by gunfire. Another individual in the vehicle was also struck by gunfire. His injuries were minor.