In the late hours of a Saturday night in Tucson, Arizona, a violent encounter outside a QuikTrip convenience store tragically claimed the life of 54-year-old Dennis James Sherwood Sr. The incident unfolded on September 23, 2023, at the gas station located on Pantano Road, forever altering the lives of those involved.
That evening, Mr. Sherwood was with another man when they were approached by a 12-year-old boy who was brandishing a firearm.
An altercation ensued, and the boy opened fire, striking Sherwood. In the chaotic moments that followed, both Mr. Sherwood and the man with him returned fire, hitting the juvenile.
When police arrived at the scene, they discovered both Dennis James Sherwood Sr. and the 12-year-old boy with gunshot wounds. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr. Sherwood was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries shortly after his arrival. The other man who was with Sherwood was not injured in the shootout.
The Tucson Police Department's investigation into the double fatality revealed that the 12-year-old was the initial aggressor. Authorities also indicated that the young boy was a person of interest in other violent incidents. Following the investigation, the case was to be reviewed by the Pima County Attorney's Office. No charges were filed against the man who was with Sherwood, and with the primary suspect deceased, the case is considered resolved.
