Its reputation for secrecy is haunting the Pima County Sheriff’s Office in the wake of a fatal officer-involved shooting at Ventana Cayon Resort Friday night.
Deputy Travis Rice, who has been on the force less than 4 years, shot 36 year old Steven Wickert, once in the head. Rice, according to Sheriff Chris Nanos, “was fighting for his life.”
At approximately 11 p.m. on Friday, Rice responded to a report of “verbal domestic violence situation.” According to FOX10, Nanos claimed that Wickert was found hiding in a dark stairwell and started yelling and attacking Rice. Wickert, reportedly knocked Rice unconscious.
FOX10 reported that when “Rice woke back up, he was being strangled by Wickert. When Rice felt himself slipping in and out of consciousness again, he took out his gun and shot Wickert in the head.”