In the early hours of New Year's Day in Tucson, Arizona, a young man's life was cut tragically short. Ariel Aurelio Guarista, a 23-year-old male, was found in the roadway in the 2600 block of North First Avenue with gunshot trauma. The Tucson Police Department received a 9-1-1 call reporting the shooting just before 2:30 a.m. on January 1, 2025.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered Guarista near a vehicle and immediately began to render first aid, including CPR.
Paramedics from the Tucson Fire Department soon arrived and took over life-saving efforts before transporting him to Banner University Medical Center. Despite the efforts to save him, Ariel Aurelio Guarista succumbed to his injuries and passed away several hours later.
Detectives from the Homicide Unit, Aggravated Robbery Unit, and the Shooting Investigations Unit responded to the scene to begin their investigation. Through witness interviews and an examination of the area, investigators believe that Guarista was struck by gunfire while he was near a parking lot. The circumstances that led to the shooting and the identity of any suspects remain under investigation. Authorities have not yet made any arrests in connection with the homicide. The Tucson Police Department has asked that anyone with information regarding the incident come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
