On Thursday April 17, 2014 at 1:37 p.m., Tucson Police officers responded to a report of an armed robbery in progress at the Wells Fargo Bank located at 145 East 22nd Street. An employee advised 911 that the bank was being robbed, the suspect was still inside and he was armed with a handgun.
The suspect, identified as 35-year old Santiago Avila, exited the front door of the bank armed with a handgun. He immediately went back inside but came back out about one minute later. Officers gave him multiple commands to stop and drop the weapon. Avila failed to comply with the officer’s orders and walked to a blue Jeep Cherokee parked in front of the bank.
Avila opened the door to the vehicle and retrieved a box of ammunition from inside of it. He then began to walk back towards the front door of the bank with a handgun in one hand and a box of ammunition in the other. Officers continued to give verbal commands for Avila to stop and drop the weapon, however he did not comply and continued walking towards the front door of the business. Realizing the danger of an armed robbery suspect re-entering the bank and fearing for the safety of the citizens inside, the officers discharged their weapons, striking the suspect.
Avila was pronounced deceased at the scene. Neither the officers nor the 16 citizens inside the bank were injured during the incident.
Detectives discovered that Avila had an active felony warrant out of California for Assault on a Peace Officer and Escape. Detectives confirmed the blue Jeep Cherokee in the parking lot belonged to Avila.
The Homicide Unit will conduct a criminal investigation into the incident. Additionally, the Office of Internal Affairs will conduct a separate and parallel administrative investigation to examine the actions of department personnel in response to this incident.
A total of five Tucson Police Officers fired their weapon during the shooting. All five officers have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol in all officer involved shootings.