In the summer of 2021, the life of 30-year-old Ron Everett Fitch, a White/Caucasian male, was tragically cut short in Tucson, Arizona. On the night of July 28th, what was supposed to be a simple transaction arranged through a third-party selling website turned into a fatal robbery. Tucson police officers were dispatched to the 1700 block of E. Prince Road around 11:16 p.m. following reports of gunfire. Upon their arrival, they discovered Fitch in a parking lot, suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite the immediate medical aid rendered by the officers and the subsequent efforts of fire personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators soon determined that Fitch had been lured to the location under the pretense of selling an item. During the arranged meeting, a robbery ensued, and in the course of the crime, shots were fired, leading to Fitch's death. The incident highlighted the potential dangers associated with online marketplace transactions and left a profound void in the lives of his family, including his daughter, Avery Fitch, and his fiancé, Andrea Ferry.
The Tucson Police Department's homicide detectives launched an intensive investigation that quickly led to the identification of suspects. Through a combination of interviews and forensic evidence, authorities first identified 17-year-old Aaron Jordae McComb as a person of interest. On July 31, 2021, officers located and apprehended McComb at his residence. He was subsequently booked into the Pima County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery.
Further investigation implicated a second individual in the fatal shooting. On August 5, 2021, detectives arrested 16-year-old Rashine Ashburn as the second suspect in the case. Ashburn was taken into custody and also booked into the Pima County Jail, facing charges of first-degree murder and four counts of armed robbery. Detectives believe that both McComb and Ashburn were also involved in a separate armed robbery that had occurred earlier on the same day that Ron Everett Fitch was killed.
