In the early morning hours of a Wednesday in March 2022, the quiet of a Tucson neighborhood was broken by the discovery of two individuals. Rashad Laron Smith, a 44-year-old male, and Celina R. Garcia, 39, were found lying near South 12th Avenue. Both had been fatally shot and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Tucson Police Department began an investigation into the double homicide. Their efforts led them to identify a suspect, 24-year-old Zachary Naifeh.
It was later revealed that Naifeh was acquainted with both Smith and Garcia. Investigators were able to track down a Jeep that was seen leaving the area around the time of the shooting, with Naifeh behind the wheel.
Zachary Naifeh was arrested on a Friday and subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Rashad Laron Smith and Celina R. Garcia. He was held in the Pima County Jail on a $2 million bond. In June of 2023, the legal proceedings concluded with the sentencing of Rashad's murderer.
