The early morning hours of a downtown Tucson, Arizona, neighborhood turned violent when a mass shooting erupted around 2 a.m., leaving nine victims wounded and the alleged shooter with life-threatening injuries.
The shooting occurred near Empire Pizza at East Congress Street and Sixth Avenue, a busy nightlife area filled with people leaving bars and restaurants. Police believe the violence began with a confrontation between two groups whose members knew each other, with bystanders caught in the crossfire.
Tucson resident Roxanne Brown expressed her concerns about the city's public safety, stating that the area is "not as safe as it used to be" due to frequent fighting. Anais Camacho, who has witnessed shootings at the same corner before, warns her relatives to leave before the bars close, citing a history of rowdy late-night violence.
Camacho recounted the events of the shooting, saying she had a gut feeling to leave early, but stayed and witnessed the argument escalate into gunfire. She praised the quick response of officers, who treated victims within a minute of the shooting.
Empire Pizza expressed its concern about the security presence downtown, stating that the business has become a hotspot for violence. The restaurant praised the officers for their bravery in stopping the shooter.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and former Rep. Gabby Giffords have blamed the lack of gun control for the decline in public safety, citing Arizona's weak gun safety laws and easy access to guns. Romero thanked the officers for stopping the shooter and expressed her hopes for the victims' recovery.
Giffords, a leading gun control advocate, lamented the state's lack of commonsense gun laws, including universal background checks and red-flag laws. She called for action to prevent future mass shootings.
Pima County authorities are investigating the incident, with the officer-involved shooting remaining unresolved. Republican Senate President Warren Petersen emphasized the need for the right to bear arms for self-defense, while praying for the recovery of the victims and justice to be served.
