By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – The crime scene tape surrounding the Bull Pen bar was visible to many who passed by the establishment Monday morning and it brought worried thoughts of what might have transpired.
A Safford Police news release issued after the Gila Herald broke the story identified the shooting suspect as Asa Derek Tsosie, 30, of Sanders, Arizona. The release stated Tsosie fired shots into the bar around closing time at 2 a.m. on Monday. As of 10:30 a.m., Tsosie was still at large and is wanted by police for questioning.
According to Safford Police Chief Joe Brugman, there were no injuries.
Brugman is currently out of town for the week, and the investigation is being headed by Captain Glen Orr.
The Safford Police Department is investigating the incident with assistance from the Graham County Sheriff’s Office and Thatcher Police Department.
Anyone with information regarding Tsosie is encouraged to call the Safford Police Department at 432-4100.
In March 2018, a jury found Salih Abdul-Haqq Zaid, 41, guilty of manslaughter for the April 26, 2017, fatal shooting of Jared Michael Garcia, 35, in the Bull Pen parking lot. Zaid was also found guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault, endangerment, disorderly conduct with a weapon, and unlawful discharge of a weapon within city limits.
Zaid was later sentenced to 15 years in prison by then Graham County Superior Court Judge Pro Tem D. Corey Sanders.
This post was updated at 10:30 a.m. to include information from a Safford Police news release.
