Gunman wounds nine in busy Tucson district before officers bring him down

Police on foot patrol heard shots around 2 a.m. local time, issued repeated commands to the suspect and then opened fire.

ByREUTERS

JULY 20, 2026 08:02

Ten people, including the suspect, suffered wounds in a mass shooting that broke out early Sunday in a lively commercial zone near downtown Tucson, Arizona, authorities reported.

Officers on routine foot patrol responded quickly to gunfire heard near 2 a.m. local time, confronted the suspect, issued repeated commands and then fired, Tucson Police Department spokesperson Frank Magos said.

The officers provided immediate first aid to the wounded suspect, who was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries described as life threatening, Magos told reporters at the scene.

Nine additional victims were struck before police arrived and were transported to hospitals in critical condition, most with gunshot injuries to their limbs, Magos added. All victims were adults and no officers were harmed.

Authorities have not released an official motive for the violence that unfolded among a large nighttime crowd. "It is very vibrant here, very lively crowd," Magos noted.

Confrontation between known groups led to shooting that injured bystanders

The incident began as a clash between two groups familiar with each other, and several bystanders were hit by stray bullets, local station KGUN-TV reported, citing police sources.

"A shooter recklessly began shooting in a crowded area, striking nine people before being stopped by a Tucson Police officer," Mayor Regina Romero said in a statement. "All victims were stabilized and taken to the hospital where we are hopeful they will all recover."

Sunday's event in Arizona's second-largest city raised the national total of mass shootings to 257 for the year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks incidents with at least four victims injured or killed.