The Tucson Police Department is investigating an officer involved shooting of 40-year-old David Moreno Leon that took place early Sunday morning on the south side of town.
Just after 4:30 a.m., officers from Operations Division South responded to a residence in the 5800 block of South Southland Boulevard, reference a possible burglary in progress. Residents of the home advised police that a suspicious person was on their property near a window. They described the subject as a Hispanic male without a shirt. Officers responded to the residence, but the suspect had left before their arrival. Evidence at the scene indicated that a screen from one of the windows had been tampered with.
Officers searched the area and located Moreno Leon with no shirt, riding a bicycle in the area. Officer Shawn Simmons, a 3-year veteran of the department attempted to make contact, but Moreno Leon fled. Officer Simmons chased Moreno Leon to a desert area north of East Drexel Road and South Morris Boulevard. During the chase, Moreno Leon displayed a handgun and shots were fired. Moreno Leon was struck by gunfire in the desert area. Officer Simmons immediately began rendering first aid to Moreno Leon until Tucson Fire could respond to continue aid. Shortly after their arrival, Moreno Leon was pronounced deceased on scene. No officers were injured during the incident.
Detectives from the Homicide Unit and the Office of Internal Affairs responded to continue the investigation. As is standard practice in all officer involved shootings, 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.