On the evening of March 31, 2024, a dispute on the southwest side of Tucson tragically escalated, resulting in the death of 52-year-old Earl Jackson. Deputies from the Pima County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to a residence off Drexel Road near Oriole Avenue following reports of a problem. Upon their arrival, they discovered Mr. Jackson deceased at the scene.
Investigations revealed that Jackson had been involved in an argument with another man, identified as 27-year-old
Francisco Ornelas. The verbal disagreement turned into a physical altercation, during which Ornelas allegedly shot and killed Jackson. Ornelas, who was still present when law enforcement arrived, was taken into custody.
Francisco Ornelas was subsequently arrested and booked into the Pima County Jail on a charge of second-degree murder. Those who knew Earl Jackson, a carpenter, remembered him as a kind and good-hearted individual.
