At least 10 people were injured early Sunday in a mass shooting in downtown Tucson, Arizona, after gunfire erupted in a busy nightlife area packed with late-night crowds, officials said.
Authorities said the suspected shooter, whose name has not been made public, allegedly attempted to escape after the attack. A Tucson Police Department officer responding to the scene shot the suspect, who was then transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries.
No fatalities had been reported. Mayor Regina Romero said nine victims were struck by gunfire, while police noted that most of the injuries were to the victims’ arms, legs and other extremities.
A Tucson Police Department forensics photographer documents the scene after nine people were hurt in an early-morning shooting in downtown Tucson on Sunday, July 19, 2026. (Mamta Popat/Arizona Daily Star)
“Last night, Tucson experienced another serious and senseless act of gun violence,” Romero said in a statement Sunday. “A shooter recklessly began shooting in a crowded area striking nine people before being stopped by a Tucson Police Officer.”
The Tucson shooting happened around 2 a.m. in the 100 block of East Congress Street, a popular downtown corridor lined with bars, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Police said officers already patrolling in the area heard several shots and rushed toward the gunfire on foot, where they spotted a man running away from the scene.
Evidence markers sit near pieces of clothing as Tucson police investigate the scene where nine people were injured in a downtown Tucson shooting early Sunday, July 19, 2026. (Mamta Popat/Arizona Daily Star)
After the suspect allegedly ignored repeated commands from officers, a uniformed officer fired his weapon, striking the fleeing suspect, TPD said.
Police took the suspect into custody and rendered first aid before Tucson Fire Department personnel transported him to a local hospital.
Responding officers also provided emergency medical aid to several victims before firefighters arrived. All the victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment.
No officers were injured in the incident.
“Thanks to the quick actions and excellent care provided by our firefighters and police officers, all victims were stabilized and taken to the hospital where we are hopeful they will all recover,” Romero said.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. TPD will also be conducting a separate investigation to determine if any policy violations occurred.
Regina Romero speaks on the first day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Aug. 19, 2024. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP)
The Democratic mayor also condemned the shooting and pointed to what she described as Arizona’s weak gun safety laws.
“Easy access to guns and Arizona’s weak gun safety laws have continued to put all of us at risk,” Romero said. “From requiring universal background checks to extreme risk laws to funding violence prevention there is more lawmakers can and should do.”
Pima County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from INC News.
