In the quiet town of Pima, Arizona, a devastating scene unfolded on October 16, 2025, shattering the community's sense of peace. Eight-year-old Tyme Oates, a young White girl, was found deceased inside a residence on South Main Street. Her life, full of potential and youthful energy, was tragically cut short in an act of violence that also claimed the lives of her brother and mother.
Responding to a welfare check, Pima police discovered a heart-wrenching scene.
Tyme, her nine-year-old brother Kyle Oates, and their 31-year-old mother, Justice Jones, were all found with fatal gunshot wounds. The fourth individual in the home, Duane Michael Jones, 64, who was Justice's father and the children's grandfather, was also deceased. Investigators quickly determined the incident to be an apparent murder-suicide.
The evidence at the scene pointed to a grim conclusion. The firearm used in the shootings was found in the possession of Duane Jones, leading authorities to believe he was the perpetrator who shot his daughter and two grandchildren before taking his own life. Family members were informed by police that Duane Jones was responsible for the deaths. Given that the sole suspect was deceased, no arrests were made, and police did not believe there were any outstanding suspects.
The community was left to mourn the profound loss of the two inseparable children, remembered for the light and joy they brought to those around them. Family members expressed their shock and grief, noting there were no known mental health concerns regarding Duane Jones. A cryptic social media post by Justice Jones the night before the tragedy, simply saying 'good night,' was one of the few signs that something may have been amiss. In the wake of the tragedy, fundraisers were established to support the children's father, Phillip Oates, as he faced the unimaginable task of arranging funerals for his beloved children.
