In the early morning hours of January 26, 2019, a violent home invasion in Sahuarita, Arizona, resulted in the death of 59-year-old Manuel Bojorquez of Eloy. The incident occurred in the 2200 block of E. Sahuarita Road when multiple armed individuals forcibly entered the residence. Witnesses reported that the assailants were Spanish-speaking males whose faces were concealed. The intruders opened fire within the home, striking Bojorquez and another individual.
Following the shooting, both victims were rushed to a local hospital for medical attention. Tragically, Manuel Bojorquez succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The second victim was treated for their injuries and was eventually released. The Sahuarita Police Department immediately launched an intensive and prolonged investigation into the homicide, a case they described as complex. The investigation involved a significant commitment of departmental resources and collaboration with various other law enforcement agencies, including the Pima County Sheriff's Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
After more than a year and a half of diligent police work, authorities made significant headway in the case. On August 3, 2020, William Anthony Lira, a 28-year-old resident of Tucson, was taken into custody and charged with one count of first-degree murder. The following day, a second suspect, 25-year-old Manuel Robles Monreal Jr., also from Tucson, was arrested and faced the same charge of first-degree murder. Both men were subsequently booked into the Pima County jail. At the time of their arrests, law enforcement officials indicated that the investigation was ongoing and that additional suspects could potentially face charges in connection with the fatal home invasion.
