On December 25, 27-year-old Johnny Angel Gomez was arrested in connection with a deadly car crash that took the life of 40-year-old William Childers. Childers, who died from his injuries on December 24, had been a passenger in Gomez’s car.
Gomez has been charged with:
Manslaughter – Class 2 Felony
Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (7 Counts) – Class 2 Felony
Aggravated Assault with Serious Injury (7 Counts) – Class 3 Felony
Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation – Class 3 Felony
Criminal Damage Over $10,000 – Class 4 Felony
Mr. Gomez was transported and booked into the Pima County Jail.
On December 23, 2016, around 11:15 p.m., Tucson Police Department officers responded to a fatal collision involving two vehicles at N. Castro Ave. and W. Glenn St. Upon arrival, officers located multiple people with various injuries inside the vehicles. The officers immediately summoned paramedics from the Tucson Fire Department. All nine occupants of the two vehicles were transported to Banner University Medical Center with minor to serious injuries.
Detectives learned that Gomez, driving a gold 1991 Honda Accord was northbound on Castro Ave. from W. Alturas St. at a high rate of speed and passed a marked Tucson Police Department vehicle traveling southbound on Castro Ave. The officer made a U-turn on Castro Ave. but lost sight of the Honda. The officer requested additional officers and the Air Unit to assist in locating the vehicle. The officer continued northbound on Castro Ave. and observed the Honda had collided with a blue 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. at W. Glenn St. Multiple citizens were on scene assisting and the officers immediately began rendering aid until paramedic arrival.
The detectives learned that Gomez continued northbound in the Honda on Castro Ave. at a high rate of speed after passing the patrol officer. The driver then passed a vehicle on the left that was stopped for a stop sign at W. Glenn St., failed to stop for the stop sign and struck the Equinox that was traveling westbound on Glenn St. on the driver’s side. The force of the collision pushed the Equinox through a block wall and into an unoccupied residence. The Honda landed on its side and was pushed back on its tires by citizens prior to police arrival. The Honda had been reported stolen to the Tucson Police Department on December 18, 2016.
The adult female driver of the Equinox sustained serious injuries. An adult female passenger, two adult male passengers and a 2-year-old child sustained minor injuries. Gomez, his adult female passenger and another adult male passenger sustained serious injuries.