In the early morning hours of January 16, 2024, a tragedy unfolded at a smoke shop on South 12th Avenue in Tucson, Arizona, resulting in the death of 26-year-old Michael Jerod Thurman, a Black / African American male. The initial 9-1-1 call, received at approximately 3:45 a.m., reported a shooting at the establishment. Responding patrol officers from Operations Division South discovered Thurman inside the business suffering from gunshot trauma.
Despite the immediate arrival of personnel from the Tucson Fire Department, his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Detectives from the Tucson Police Department's Homicide Unit were called in to lead the investigation into the violent encounter. Through interviews with witnesses, a harrowing narrative of the events preceding the shooting began to emerge. Investigators learned that multiple individuals had approached and accosted Michael Thurman inside the smoke shop. The confrontation escalated to a physical assault, which culminated in one of the individuals fatally shooting him. In the immediate aftermath of the gunfire, the suspects and other individuals present fled from the store, leaving a scene of chaos and tragedy. Preliminary findings from the investigation suggested that Thurman did not know his assailants.
As detectives delved deeper into the case, they meticulously reviewed forensic evidence which, combined with witness statements, led to the identification of three suspects. Warrants were swiftly obtained for their arrests. The first to be apprehended was 18-year-old Joseph Armani Davis, who was located by officers with the assistance of the TPD SWAT team at a residence near West Ajo Way. Following a brief interview, Davis was booked into the Pima County Jail on charges of Felony 1st Degree Murder and Kidnapping.
The following day, on January 17, 2024, the second suspect, 20-year-old Alexander Maximus Buendia, was located and arrested on Tucson's Westside near West Fort Lowell Road. He too was charged with 1st Degree Murder and Kidnapping and booked into the Pima County Jail. The third and final suspect, 19-year-old Fernando Valencia, was located and taken into custody on January 18, 2024. He was also booked into the Pima County Jail on a warrant for Felony 1st Degree Murder. While the investigation remained ongoing, law enforcement officials announced that they were not seeking any other suspects in connection with Michael Thurman's death.
