In the early hours of a Wednesday morning in Tucson, Arizona, the life of 39-year-old Celina Renee Garcia, a Hispanic female, was tragically cut short. On March 23, 2022, Garcia and a companion, 44-year-old Rashad Laron Smith, were discovered deceased near South 12th Avenue. Both had been the victims of a fatal shooting in what was investigated as a double homicide.
The Tucson Police Department quickly began an investigation into the deaths.
Their efforts led them to identify a vehicle, a Jeep, that was seen leaving the area around the time of the shooting. This crucial piece of evidence ultimately guided them to a suspect. Just two days after the discovery of Garcia and Smith, authorities made an arrest in connection with the double homicide.
On Friday, March 25, 2022, 24-year-old Zachary Naifeh was taken into custody by Tucson police. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder. According to police, Naifeh was known to both Celina Garcia and Rashad Smith. At the time of his arrest, a motive for the killings had not yet been established by the authorities. Naifeh was booked into the Pima County Jail, held on a $2 million bond.
