In the late hours of an October night in Tucson, Arizona, a series of events tragically culminated in the death of 27-year-old Christiaan Miguel Silva. The Hispanic man was fatally shot on October 26, 2020, during what began as an attempted car theft.
The incident unfolded in the 2300 block of East Calle Joya de Ventura. A homeowner was alerted by their security system to a man attempting to break into a vehicle parked near the street.
That man was later identified as 35-year-old David Anthony Santos-Esqueda. As Santos-Esqueda was trying to gain entry to the car, Silva was waiting nearby in a white Jeep.
One of the home's occupants came outside armed with a gun to confront Santos-Esqueda. In the ensuing confrontation, shots were fired. While the shots were intended for Santos-Esqueda, it was Silva who was struck. Following the shooting, Silva and Santos-Esqueda fled the scene in the Jeep. However, Silva’s injuries proved to be fatal, and he died less than a mile away in the 1700 block of East Holladay Street. Emergency personnel who arrived on the scene attempted to render aid but were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead.
Following an investigation by the Tucson Police Department, David Anthony Santos-Esqueda was identified and arrested. He was subsequently charged with attempted theft of means of transportation, attempted third-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools, and first-degree felony murder.
