TUCSON – The officers involved in shooting that occurred on August 22, have been identified as Officer Edward Jahnke, a 7 ½ year veteran of the Tucson Police Department and Officer Jesus Calderon, an officer with almost 2 years of service with the Tucson Police Department.
A heavily armed suspect, fired on the officers responding to a report of a stolen vehicle at a mobile home complex in the 3100 block of East Behan Street
According to Tucson Police, on August 22, 2020, just before 11:00 a.m. officers were directed to the mobile home complex for a possible location of an embezzled vehicle. The vehicle was reported as embezzled from a local rental car business and was equipped with a GPS tracking system which led officers to that location.
Officers spotted the same vehicle driving earlier in the day, but the driver sped away from officers when they attempted to stop the vehicle. When Officer Calderon, who was first to arrive at the scene, he noticed the vehicle parked with several occupants inside. As he approached, an adult female exited the vehicle and fled on foot. An adult male then exited from the driver’s seat and fired a shot at Officer Calderon. The unnamed suspect/shooter then fled on foot into the mobile home complex as two other suspects exited the vehicle and fled.
Additional officers responded to the scene, including several deputies from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department that were in the area.
Deputies were able to locate and detain the female that fled from the vehicle. As officers began searching for the suspect/shooter and the other suspects involved, additional shots from the original suspect/shooter were fired toward Officer Calderon and Officer Calderon returned fire with his handgun.
The suspect/shooter continued running through the complex and eventually ran towards Officer Jahnke. The suspect/shooter then pointed a gun at Officer Jahnke and Officer Jahnke discharged his firearm, striking the suspect/shooter multiple times.
The shooter was transported the suspect to Banner University Medical Center with life threatening injuries.
A male juvenile teenager who fled from the vehicle was also located and detained in the area.
The fourth male suspect involved is still outstanding.
Detectives have determined that Officer Calderon and Officer Jahnke were the only officers who discharged a firearm during the shooting. It appears that only one of the four suspects involved fired shots.
The two detained suspects were identified but have not been charged as of this date.
While detectives are conducting the criminal portion of the investigation, sergeants with the Office of Professional Standards (OPS) are conducting a separate, but parallel administrative investigation to examine the actions of department personnel. This is standard protocol in all officer-involved shootings.