A neighborhood constable, who was additionally a U.S. Army veteran, was among 4 folks fatally shot at an condominium advanced whereas serving an eviction discover in Tucson, Arizona, officers stated. The shooting occurred simply after 11 a.m. on Thursday on the Lind Commons Apartments, Tucson police stated.
Few particulars have been launched, however Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey recognized Pima County Constable Deborah Martinez-Garibay, 43, as one of many victims in an order to fly flags at half-staff in all state buildings Friday.
“The loss of Constable Deborah Martinez is felt across our state,” Ducey stated in a news launch. “Whether it was serving in the U.S. Army or carrying out her duties as a constable for Pima County, she dedicated her life to helping others and her community.”
Martinez-Garibay grew to become a constable for Justice Precinct 8 earlier this yr, Ducey stated. She was a Tucson native “who will be remembered for the way she treated others with dignity and respect,” the governor stated.
“It’s just unreal, for someone to do that to another person,” her husband, Gabriel Garibay, informed the Tucson Sentinel on Thursday. “I’m still trying to put it together. It seems like it’s unreal, I’m still thinking that it’s a joke somewhere, but it’s just a way to describe it. I don’t know how to explain it.”
Around 6 p.m. Thursday, Martinez-Garibay’s physique was escorted from the world by regulation enforcement officers, who shaped a guard of honor. Motorcycle police officer and different regulation enforcement autos drove in a line with lights flashing.
Her Ford F-150 remained on the scene Thursday afternoon, with a small “Constable” signal on the door, the newspaper reported.
Martinez-Garibay enlisted in the U.S. Army after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist assaults, and did a number of excursions in Afghanistan earlier than retiring after 16 years. After leaving the army, she volunteered at native nonprofits devoted to veterans and their households, the governor’s news launch stated.
Local news retailers reported that an worker of the condominium advanced was additionally killed in the shooting. There was no phrase early Friday on the identities of the opposite two victims.
Residents on the condominium advanced had been evacuated however later let again into their houses, news retailers reported.
Pima County Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bronson prolonged sympathies on behalf of the county to Martinez-Garibay’s household, buddies and colleagues.
“I am heartbroken at this terrible tragedy and I will keep Constable Martinez and all who knew and loved her in my thoughts,” she said in a statement.
Martinez-Garibay, who was appointed constable after the earlier one resigned, hoped to be elected to the place during the November election. Under state regulation, Martinez-Garibay can be changed on the November common election poll by a candidate chosen by the Pima County Democratic Party, the Tucson Sentinel reported.
In 2019, Martinez-Garibay was honored for her work and obtained a car from the Recycled Ride program, KPHO-TV (*4*).
In 2017 and 2018, Martinez-Garibay led the Tucson chapter of the PGA Hope program, KOLD-TV reported. The program sought to deliver collectively army veterans with any incapacity and golf professionals.
“The biggest thing that I am seeing is more than they’re happy about learning the game of golf, they’re happy to have the social interaction with other veterans,” Martinez-Garibay stated on the time.
Serving eviction notices may be harmful. On Monday, an Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office deputy was fatally shot and a second deputy was wounded whereas they tried to serve eviction papers at a house close to Oklahoma City, officers stated.
Sheriff Tommie Johnson stated the 2 deputies had been serving “lock-out papers,” which is a part of the eviction course of, when one of many deputies went to the again door of the house and was shot. The second deputy was shot as he tried to drag the primary deputy to security, Johnson stated. A suspect in the Oklahoma shooting was taken into custody after main regulation enforcement on a chase, officers stated.
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