Pima County authorities issued a first-degree murder arrest warrant for 33-year-old Alex James Barnett after the fatal shooting of Carlos Ramirez in Tucson. Investigators said Barnett is one of three suspects they are still seeking in the home invasion that left Ramirez dead and his pregnant fiancée injured.
The sheriff’s department said the warrant was obtained Thursday, Aug. 20, one day after early Wednesday, Aug. 19, when Ramirez, 23, was found shot to death in the 7700 block of South Enchanted Spring Drive. His fiancée, Aaliyah, a current Pima County Sheriff’s Department corrections officer, was hurt in the attack and is expected to survive; her unborn child is expected to be OK.
Shell video and Palo Verde
Investigators said a first video placed Barnett and one of the other suspects at the Shell gas station at 5405 West Valencia Road around 5:30 a.m., minutes before the shooting. A second video was taken near Palo Verde and 33rd Street a few hours after the shooting, and the third suspect’s vehicle was found in that area earlier on Thursday, about 30 minutes from the crime scene.
The department is still looking for Barnett and the other suspects. That search now centers on matching the vehicle movement, the gas-station footage and the home invasion timeline against the arrest warrant that names Barnett as one of three men linked to the killing.
Chris Nanos and Monica Prieto
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said, "This does reach all of us," and added, "These members of my department, the members of the Tucson Police Department, and their family members are also members of the Department of Public Safety, which is also here in support." He also said, "I can’t do this without the support of others," and, "It’s tough on our teams, but I appreciate whatever the community can give us to help us get through this."
Tucson Police Chief Monica Prieto called the killing "a tragic event and a tremendous loss for our community, the city, our department," and said, "Our efforts are focused on assisting family members and our staff as we get through this difficult time." She also said, "We plead with the public if they have any information to please report it to 911."
A GoFundMe for Aaliyah had raised more than $10,000 by 4 p.m. Thursday. The owner of Rosita Coffee Company said the woman shot was her sister and claimed the shooting was not random, but the public account so far does not explain the motive for the home invasion that ended with Ramirez dead and Aaliyah wounded.
