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Tucson Police Department Homicide Detectives have arrested two suspects in connection with a double-fatal shooting that occurred yesterday afternoon on the Tucson’s west side. The suspects were located and taken into custody later that evening in Glendale, Arizona.
On June 20, 2025, around 2 p.m., patrol officers from Operations Division West responded to a report of a shooting at a pawn shop, located at 1110 W. Prince Road. Upon arrival, officers located two victims with gunshot trauma. The first victim, identified as 49-year-old Francisco Vejar, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The second victim, 47-year-old Anthony David Tarli, an employee of the shop, was transported by the Tucson Fire Department to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. Next of kin notifications were made to the families of Mr. Tarli and Mr. Vejar.
Responding officers immediately obtained a description of the suspect and the vehicle involved and initiated an extensive search. Neighboring law enforcement agencies were also given the suspect vehicle description. Officers canvassed the area for witnesses and forensic evidence from the scene. TPD Homicide Detectives responded and took over the investigation. Through recovered evidence and witness statements, detectives determined that a suspect entered the pawn shop and immediately opened fire and shot at Mr. Tarli, the employee. Mr. Tarli returned fire during the exchange but was struck. The suspect then proceeded to remove several firearms that were displayed for sale. During the robbery, the suspect fatally shot Mr. Vejar before fleeing the store as a passenger in a vehicle.
Investigators quickly identified a license plate associated with the suspect vehicle and distributed the information to law enforcement agencies across Arizona. Later that evening, the Glendale Police Department located the vehicle at an apartment complex and detained two individuals associated with it. The suspects were identified as 44-year-old David Javier Maldonado and 23-year-old Amari Taivonne Harris.
TPD detectives drove to Glendale, contacted both individuals and executed search warrants in Glendale and Tucson. Several of the stolen firearms were recovered during the searches. Ultimately, homicide detectives charged both Maldonado and Harris with two counts of 1st Degree Murder, Aggravated Robbery, Armed Robbery, and Robbery. They were transported from the city of Glendale to the Pima County Jail where they are currently being held.
The Tucson Police Department is grateful for the support from the community, as well as the Chandler Police Department, Glendale Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS), and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) for their assistance in apprehending two high-risk individuals.
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