The Pima County Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges against Mr. Alexander G. Cleveland, of Green Valley, after he shot a man in self-defense.
On August 4, 2012, detectives with the Pima County Sheriff’s Office responded to Green Valley residence in the 400 block of West Apero Drive. A short distance from the incident location on La Canada Drive, deputies found a vehicle off the roadway. Just outside the vehicle they found a male, identified as 28-year-old Wayne Anthony Peters, deceased.
Peters had suffered an apparent gunshot wound. Detectives learned that Peters and his girlfriend, 23-year-old Kristina Dunkel, were involved in a domestic dispute during the early morning hours of August 4. Peters became physically abusive towards Ms. Dunkel. At one point, he choked her to a degree where she was not able to call for help.
Ultimately, she freed herself and ran to a neighbor’s residence. The neighbors, later identified as Cleveland and his girlfriend, Cynthia Owens, let Ms. Dunkel inside. Peters showed up at their door and asked if his girlfriend was there, which they denied. After a while, Peters returned and forced his way into the neighbor’s residence. He forced his girlfriend outside and into his Jeep. During this time, Peters made suicidal threats and also stated he would take his girlfriend with him.
At the car, Ms. Owens tried to help Ms. Dunkel but Peters became physically violent with her as well and held her by her throat. Mr. Cleveland then came out of his residence, carrying a handgun, and fired a warning shot prompting Peters to let go of the women. Peters reportedly came at Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Cleveland, who feared for his life, fired his weapon at Peters in self defense and struck him. Peters then left in his car travelling southbound on La Canada Drive where he was later found by deputies.