In the late afternoon of February 7, 2020, a tragedy unfolded on the east side of Tucson, Arizona, forever altering the lives of one family. Julian Holmes, a 23-year-old Black/African American male, found himself at an apartment complex in the 1700 block of South Craycroft Road. It was there, under the Arizona sun, that his life was cut short by gunfire. Though he did not reside at the complex, he was associated with it.
The moments following the shooting were a desperate fight for survival.
Suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, a wounded Julian knocked on the door of a resident, pleading for help. That resident promptly dialed 911, bringing officers from the Tucson Police Department to the scene around 4:00 p.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered Julian, who, despite his grave injuries, was conscious and able to communicate with them. Emergency crews from the Tucson Fire Department quickly transported him to Banner University Medical Center, but the severity of his wounds proved to be too much, and he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital.
In the wake of the shooting, detectives began their investigation, piecing together the events that led to the young man's death. They determined the shooting had occurred just outside one of the apartments. Despite their efforts and appeals to the public for any information that could lead to a breakthrough in the case, no suspects were immediately identified, and no arrests were made in the initial stages of the investigation. The case remained open, with authorities urging anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward. Julian, who was born in New Britain, Connecticut, and had a passion for music, left behind a daughter and a grieving family.
