Tucson police recruit murdered: Blue Alert issued for suspect
Suspect sought in Tucson police recruit's murder
Authorities are searching for armed suspect Alex James Barnett following a shooting that left a Tucson Police recruit dead, and his fiancée injured. FOX 10's Taylor Wirtz reports.
TUCSON, Ariz. - Phones lit up across Arizona on the night of Aug. 20, as the Pima County Sheriff's Department had the Arizona Department of Public Safety issue a Blue Alert for 33-year-old Alex James Barnett.
The backstory:
The Pima County Sheriff's Department says he is a suspect in the murder of Tucson police recruit Carlos Ramirez, who was shot and killed inside his home on Wednesday. Ramirez's 23-year-old fiancée, a current Pima County Sheriff's Department corrections officer, was also shot, but is expected to be OK.
Detectives have also issued surveillance video from Tucson showing two other possible suspects in the investigation. One was seen with Barnett at a Shell station on Valencia Road, and the other was seen exiting a vehicle believed to be involved near Palo Verde Road.
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Suspects sought in shooting of Tucson police recruit and his fiancée
Three suspects are on the loose after a Tucson police recruit was found shot to death early Wednesday morning, and his fiancée, a corrections officer, was wounded.
What they're saying:
The Arizona Department of Public Safety says Blue Alerts are rare. They are only issued when a law enforcement officer has been attacked or killed, and the suspect poses an imminent threat to the public.
"In this case, when a young person who was an aspiring police officer is gunned down in his own home and we are looking for that suspect, it's really important for all law enforcement to be on the same page to find that person. But we can't really do that many times without the public's help," said Bart Graves, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Why you should care:
Former police officer and co-founder and director of Guardian Training & Consulting Josh Logan says people statewide should take the alert seriously, because capturing the suspect quickly limits the danger to everyone else.
"The Blue Alert is used to notify the public that we have a dangerous individual out there that is not just willing to hurt people, but to hurt law enforcement. The longer this goes on, typically... when it comes to fugitive operations, they get more desperate," said Logan.
What you can do:
Barnett has a lengthy criminal history, with records showing everything from child abuse to theft and unlawful imprisonment. He is also considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.
People with information are asked to call 911. They can also call 88-CRIME to leave anonymous tips.
Alex Barnett (PCSD)
Map of where the shooting happened
The Source: Information in this report was gathered from the Pima County Sheriff's Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Bart Graves, and Josh Logan.