In the early hours of New Year's Day, the life of 15-year-old Julian Gabriel Quintana was tragically cut short. The freshman at Miami High School was attending a holiday party at a home in Central Heights, a community near Globe, Arizona, when the celebration turned to tragedy.
At approximately 1:08 a.m. on January 1, 2026, the Gila County Sheriff's Office received a distressing 911 call. The caller, a friend of Julian's, reported that he had been shot.
Initial reports suggested the suspect fled the scene in a white RAM truck, though later information indicated the individual may have escaped on foot before being picked up by an unknown vehicle. When law enforcement from both the Gila County Sheriff's Office and the Globe Police Department arrived at the residence on McKinney Avenue, they found Julian unresponsive.
Officers immediately began performing life-saving measures until paramedics arrived. Julian was first rushed to Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center and then airlifted to a hospital in Phoenix due to the severity of his injuries. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries later that day.
The Gila County Sheriff's Office has launched an ongoing investigation into the shooting, and it has not yet been determined whether the act was intentional or accidental. In connection with the case, authorities have identified 19-year-old Deshawn Tarango as a person of interest. Law enforcement has asked for the public's assistance in locating him. As of now, the investigation continues, and further details are expected to be released as they become available.
