Authorities are investigating three homicides in Tucson on Saturday

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The Tucson Police Department continues to investigate three separate homicides that occurred Saturday.

TPD said while there were different incidents, they all involved gun violence that left three people dead.

Seneca and Ridgeway’s neighbors woke up to multiple bangs in the middle of the night, and in the morning their worst fears came true.

“My wife woke up around 6 a.m. and she was screaming. She says ‘there’s a body, there’s a body,'” a neighbor said. “I got up and there was police warning tape in our yard, at that point, I was like, ‘OK, something’s happening.’

The person on the road was Demeris Johnson, 31, the third person killed Saturday in the city of Tucson …with Keven Yanez Acuña, 17, and a 43-year-old man.

“It appears that groups are getting into altercations and it’s no longer fights, but guns. So it’s very disturbing to see a 17-year-old young adult being the victim of gun violence with the frequency that we’re seeing. just horrible,” said Ward 6 Councilwoman Karin Uhlich.

The first call came like a shooting shortly after midnight near Speedway and Oracle. Police found a 43-year-old man seriously injured by gunfire. He was taken to hospital and later died from his injuries. Officers arrested Johnny Esparza, 29, on charges of first degree murder, armed robbery and robbery.

“TPD’s partnerships with agencies at the federal level have really led to convictions and resolution of crimes at a very high rate,” Uhlich said.

The second homicide occurred at 36th street trailhead just before 2:30 a.m., leaving Acuña dead.

Uhlich has worked with TPD to combat gun violence throughout the city and said his goal is to support TPD’s work.

“These are cameras or license plate readers in hot spots, or even mobile type installations that could be placed where we know there could be problems,” Uhlich said.

The kind of problem that leaves a neighbor and his wife worried about the future.

“She doesn’t really feel safe anymore and she’s very upset and scared,” the neighbor said.

This problem seems to be spreading across all areas of the city.

“It doesn’t matter what neighborhood it is, it doesn’t matter if it’s around Pima County,” Uhlich said. “We have to work across those kinds of boundaries to overcome this.”

Tucson Police are asking anyone with information about these incidents to call 911 or 88-CRIME. You can remain anonymous.

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