On a summer evening in Tucson, Arizona, a gathering of friends and family turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 28-year-old Thomas Barnes. The incident unfolded on July 4, 2016, at a residence in the 2000 block of East 36th Street, where a party was underway. What began as a celebration took a dark turn when an altercation broke out among some of the attendees.
During the course of the dispute, Barnes reportedly used a stun gun on another man, 29-year-old Glenn Kyser.
In response to being stunned, Kyser is said to have pulled out a handgun and shot Barnes. When Tucson Police officers arrived at the scene around 6:15 p.m., they found Barnes lying in front of the house with gunshot wounds. He was quickly transported to a local hospital for medical attention, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
In the aftermath of the shooting, an investigation was launched by the Tucson Police Department. The inquiries led to the arrest of Glenn Kyser in connection with the fatal shooting. He was subsequently booked into the Pima County Jail and faced a charge of second-degree murder for his alleged role in the death of Thomas Barnes. Those who knew Barnes remembered him as a kindhearted person who was always smiling and had a great sense of humor. He had been an employee at Five Guys and had attended Marina High and Apollo schools. The case serves as a somber reminder of how a festive occasion can escalate into a tragedy with lasting consequences for a community.
