Gila Herald Staff Reports
TUCSON — A night out in downtown Tucson shattered into violence early Sunday morning, July 19, 2026, leaving nine people wounded and a suspect in critical condition after a rapid-response confrontation with foot patrol officers.
The suspect has been identified as 21-year-old David Leroy French. According to court records, French is a convicted felon with a prior conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Following the weekend’s mass shooting, the Tucson Police Department (TPD) booked French on an interim complaint charging him with:
- Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (9 counts)
- Aggravated Assault involving Serious Physical Injury (9 counts)
- Discharging a Firearm at a Structure (1 count)
Authorities note that additional criminal charges are pending as the investigation unfolds.
Argument Escalates into Gunfire Outside Downtown Pizzeria
The incident began around 2 a.m. near East Congress Street and North 6th Avenue. According to court documents, an intense verbal argument broke out on the crowded street.
Witness Anais Camacho, who was standing outside Empire Pizza, recalled seeing a fight erupt before realizing a weapon was about to be pulled.
“He like lifted his shirt up, and I didn’t even see the gun, but I knew what that meant,” Camacho told local TV news. “I said, ‘He has a gun, he has a gun,’ and nobody like moved, and I had to like grab my cousin, and we dipped, and as soon as we bent the corner—shots fired.”
French allegedly pulled the firearm and opened fire into the crowd, striking nine victims. TPD officials stated that most of the victims suffered gunshot wounds to their extremities.
“Heroism” on Foot Patrol: Officers Engage Suspect
Uniformed Tucson police officers on nearby foot patrol heard the immediate echoes of gunfire and ran directly toward the danger. Upon arriving at the scene, they encountered French running from the area.
Officers shouted multiple commands at the fleeing suspect. When French refused to comply, a uniformed officer discharged his department-issued firearm, striking French and ending the threat. French was transported to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Responding officers immediately shifted to providing emergency medical aid, applying tourniquets and first aid to the victims before Tucson Fire Department personnel arrived to transport them to the hospital. No officers were injured in the exchange.
Darrell Hussman, president of the Tucson Police Officer’s Association, praised the rapid intervention as absolute heroism but warned that TPD remains heavily understaffed.
“We had an officer that happened to be right place, right time, ended the threat… There was so much that we can be proud of and celebrate in this event from the tragedy that happened,” Hussman noted, while calling on city leaders for better pay and resources to protect the downtown entertainment district.
Political and Legal Leadership Respond
The mass shooting triggered a wave of responses from Arizona leaders. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover confirmed that senior leadership and a team of victim advocates were dispatched through the night to assist families at the hospital, expressing hope that all nine victims will survive.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero lambasted the state’s loose firearm regulations following the shooting. “Easy access to guns and Arizona’s weak gun safety laws have continued to put all of us at risk,” Romero said. “From requiring universal background checks to extreme risk laws to funding violence prevention, there is more lawmakers can and should do.”
Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, a native Tucsonan, and her husband, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, also released a joint statement:
“I’m heartbroken to learn that nine people were shot early this morning in downtown Tucson,” Giffords said. “Too many lives have been changed forever because of America’s gun violence crisis, in my hometown and across the nation. Mark and I are grateful for the bravery of Tucson’s first responders as we await more information.”
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego added his support via social media, stating, “My heart is with Tucson today. The victims of last night’s senseless shooting were enjoying a night out in the city—they didn’t deserve to experience this violence.”
Parallel Investigations Activated
Because the incident involved an officer-involved shooting, independent oversight protocols have been initiated. The Pima Regional Critical Incident Team (PRCIT) has been activated, with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department taking the lead on the criminal investigation regarding the officer’s use of force.
Concurrently, the Tucson Police Department is conducting an internal administrative investigation to ensure all department policies were strictly followed. Once concluded, the full findings will be turned over to the Pima County Attorney’s Office for formal review.
Investigators are urging anyone with cell phone video or information regarding the shooting to contact 88-CRIME and reference Pima County Sheriff’s Department case number 260719048. Callers may remain entirely anonymous.
