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In March of 2022, the Tucson Police Department responded to a shooting in midtown Tucson. During the initial response, patrol officers located the suspect vehicle and initiated a pursuit after the suspect vehicle fled. At one point during the pursuit, an occupant fired multiple shots at pursuing officers, striking a patrol car. After the pursuit, TPD undertook a large search of the area, ultimately arresting two suspects. Investigators were able to identify the shooting suspect as Ray Drew Kittrell. He was charged with multiple felonies and booked into the Pima County Jail.
Today, we witnessed the conclusion of this case with the sentencing of Mr. Kittrell. At the time of the incident, Mr. Kittrell was on probation for first-degree burglary and had previously served a prison term for being a felon in possession of a firearm. As part of a plea agreement related to the charges of Attempted First-Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon/Dangerous Instrument, Mr. Kittrell was sentenced today to serve 17 years in prison with the Arizona Department of Corrections.
Chief of Police Chad Kasmar would like to express his gratitude to the members of the Tucson Police Department who were involved in this incident, from the initial call response and pursuit to Mr. Kittrell’s final apprehension. He also extends his thanks to the Pima County Attorney’s Office, specifically Deputy County Attorney Jeffrey Amlee, for his dedication and resolve in prosecuting this case. Finally, Chief Kasmar would like to thank Pima County Superior Court Judge Casey McGinley for his diligent and thoughtful work in this matter. While recognizing that Mr. Kittrell suffered from mental health issues and substance misuse, Chief Kasmar emphasizes that there are no excuses for engaging in the type of violent criminal activity that occurred.
The Tucson Police Department continues to be committed to ensuring the safety of our community and our department members. The original media release from March 1, 2022 is listed below.
______________Sergeant Richard Gradillas_ March 25, 2024__________________
On the morning of March 1, 2022, just before 7:00 a.m., the Public Safety Communications Department began receiving several 9-1-1 calls reporting a shooting in the 1400 block of S. Craycroft Road. Officers from Operations Division Midtown responded to the scene and located an adult male with gunshot trauma. Tucson Fire personnel arrived and transported the victim to St. Joseph's Hospital. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Additional officers at the scene gathered information from witnesses and obtained the suspect vehicle description, including the license plate, which was then broadcast to officers throughout the division.
Almost immediately after the broadcast, a patrol officer circulating the area advised that he located the suspect vehicle. A brief vehicle pursuit ensued near S. Country Club and E. Silverlake Roads. The vehicle fled southeast on Aviation Road, where an occupant in the suspect vehicle shot at pursuing officers. The vehicle continued fleeing towards S. Camilla Stravenue where it then collided into a mailbox on S. Howard Stravenue - where the occupants abandoned the vehicle and ran into the neighborhood. An officer's patrol vehicle was struck by gunfire but thankfully, no injuries were reported to officers or community members. One of the occupants, an adult female, was immediately detained after fleeing from the vehicle.
An alert was sent citywide requesting all available patrol units to respond to the area and assist with searching for the remaining suspects. The neighborhood south of Silverlake Road was entirely cordoned off from S. Country Club Road east to S. Palo Verde Ave. A full SWAT call-out was initiated to include the TPD Air Support and K-9 Units. Air support from the Pima County Sheriff's Office also responded to assist. Air and ground personnel searched the area extensively, checking the neighborhood, yard-by-yard. Approximately two hours later, the driver of the vehicle was located by K9 units hiding in a yard. He was taken into custody and identified as 41-year-old David Eugene Howard. TPD personnel concluded the extensive search shortly after 1:00 p.m.
Investigative personnel, including the Violent Crimes Unit and Operations Division Midtown/Community Response Team (ODM/CRT), remained in the area to continue the investigation. Investigators learned that the shooting suspect from S. Craycroft Rd. was the same suspect who fired at officers. The suspect was identified as 24-year-old Ray Drew Kittrell. At approximately 2:30 p.m., ODM/CRT located Kittrell – on foot attempting to flag down vehicles – near E. 23rd St. and S. Beverly Ave. SWAT personnel were able to contact and arrest Kittrell with the assistance of a K9 unit. The K9 unit bit the suspect during the apprehension, resulting in Kittrell sustaining a minor injury.
Detectives conducted additional interviews and analyzed evidence recovered at the scene, including a pistol that was recovered when Kittrell was apprehended. At the conclusion of their interviews, detectives charged Ray Kittrell with Attempted 1st Degree Murder, two counts of Discharging a Weapon in the City Limits, two counts of Aggravated Assault, two counts of Prohibited Possessor, Drive-by Shooting, and Shooting at an Occupied Structure. Detectives charged David Howard with Drive-by Shooting and Unlawful Flight from Law Enforcement. Both suspects were then transported and booked into the Pima County Jail. Detectives believe a fourth occupant remains outstanding. The investigation continues, and detectives are asking anyone with information about the identity and/or whereabouts of the fourth occupant to call 911 or 88-CRIME anonymously.
From the initial response to this incident, significant resources were utilized in an effort to not only locate the suspects, but also ensure the safety of the community within the area that they were last seen. The Tucson Police Department extends its appreciation to the affected community members for their patience, and our law enforcement and media partners for their assistance.
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