Police said an officer shot and arrested a fleeing suspect after gunfire erupted near Sixth Avenue and Congress Street.
TUCSON, Ariz. — Ten people, including a suspect shot by a police officer, were critically wounded during an early-morning shooting Sunday in downtown Tucson, authorities said.
The violence was reported at about 2 a.m. near Sixth Avenue and Congress Street. Police officers who were already in the area heard gunshots and ran toward the scene, where they found a person identified by authorities as the suspect running away, according to Tucson police.
Police said an officer shot the suspect during the encounter. Officers then took the person into custody and provided first aid until Tucson Fire Department crews arrived and transported the suspect to a hospital. The suspect was last reported in life-threatening condition.
Nine other people suffered critical gunshot wounds to their arms or legs, police said. Authorities had not released their names, ages or updated medical conditions as of Sunday morning.
Police had also not disclosed what led to the initial gunfire, whether the victims knew one another or whether more than one weapon was used. Investigators had not publicly identified the suspect or announced any criminal charges.
The downtown scene remained closed as detectives collected evidence and searched for witnesses and video recordings. Sixth Avenue was closed between Pennington Street and Broadway Boulevard, while Congress Street was closed between Scott and Toole avenues.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation into the police shooting. Tucson police are conducting a separate internal review to determine whether the officer’s actions complied with department policy.
Once the outside investigation is complete, the findings are expected to be forwarded to the Pima County Attorney’s Office for review. Authorities had not released the name of the officer involved or said how many shots the officer fired.
Investigators asked witnesses and anyone with video of the shooting to contact 88-CRIME and reference the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Officials said anonymous tips would be accepted.
The investigation remained active Sunday, and authorities warned that the number and medical conditions of those injured could change as additional information became available.
Author note: Last updated July 19, 2026.