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On July 10, 2023, just before 5:30 p.m., patrol officers from Midtown Division responded to the 1400 block of S. Winmor Avenue for the report of a shooting and an unresponsive male in the roadway. Upon arrival, officers located the victim with obvious gunshot trauma. Officers rendered first aid until Tucson Fire Department (TFD) personnel arrived and continued life-saving efforts. TFD transported the victim to Banner University Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. Police identified the victim as 17-year-old Jose Salcedo. Next of kin was notified.
Detectives from the Homicide Unit were contacted and responded to the scene to continue the investigation. Through initial interviews and evidence at the scene, detectives learned that a group of males, including Jose Salcedo, were in the area for a pre-arranged meeting with two individuals. The meeting was held behind a grocery store near S. Country Club Rd. and E. 24th Street. During the meeting, Jose Salcedo and another male attempted to rob the two individuals at gunpoint. The victims attempted to flee in their vehicle and one of the suspects began firing, inadvertently shooting his accomplice, Jose Salcedo. After the shooting, the two victims contacted police nearby and were interviewed by detectives.
After further examination of forensic evidence, detectives identified the outstanding suspect as 16-year-old Cesar Suarez Ortiz. On July 12, 2023, officers from Operations Division Midtown/Community Response Team located Ortiz at his residence. Members from TPD SWAT responded to assist and took him into custody. Detectives served a search warrant at the home and ultimately charged Ortiz with 1st Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Robbery, two counts of Aggravated Robbery, and two counts of Aggravated Assault. The suspect has been booked into the Pima County Jail and is being held on a $1,000,000 bond.
The investigation is still ongoing and detectives are asking anyone with information to come forward and contact 88-CRIME. You can remain anonymous. Additional details will be released as they become available. A booking photo for Cesar Ortiz is not available.
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