In the late hours of February 21, 2021, a confrontation in the parking lot of an apartment complex on South Park Avenue in Tucson, Arizona, turned deadly for 19-year-old Edsel Cecena-Marquez. The young Hispanic man was involved in a physical altercation with several other individuals. In the moments that followed the initial scuffle, the dispute escalated dramatically, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
Cecena-Marquez was struck by a bullet during the shootout and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Tucson Police Department Homicide Detectives responded to the incident and began an investigation. They were able to speak with witnesses, including the other individual who had exchanged fire with Cecena-Marquez. After a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the shooting, the findings were presented to the Pima County Attorney's Office for review. Ultimately, the prosecutor's office decided not to bring forward any charges in connection with the death of Edsel Cecena-Marquez.
The investigation into Cecena-Marquez's death, however, led to an unexpected break in a cold case. Evidence recovered from the scene of his death, including trace DNA, was examined and compared to evidence from the September 2019 murder of 15-year-old Erik Isaac Nañez. This forensic analysis led detectives to identify Edsel Cecena-Marquez as the suspect in the earlier homicide. The family of Erik Nañez was notified of this development, and with the identification of Cecena-Marquez as the alleged perpetrator, the investigation into Nañez's murder was officially closed.
