In the quiet neighborhood on the east side of Tucson, Arizona, the life of 42-year-old Daniel Gordon came to a violent end on September 18, 2015. The events of that day unfolded in the area of South Bonanza Avenue and East Emberwood Drive, where a report of shots fired drew the initial attention of law enforcement. Their investigation would soon lead them to a grim discovery inside a home in the 2400 block of South Adventure Trail.
Upon forcing entry into the residence, officers found
Daniel Gordon deceased, having suffered from gunshot trauma. What transpired was not a simple act of violence, but a chaotic home invasion. Investigators determined that multiple suspects had forced their way into Gordon's home, leading to an exchange of gunfire between Gordon and the intruders. In the ensuing violence, Gordon was fatally wounded. The investigation into the homicide also uncovered that Gordon had been involved in packaging and shipping marijuana from his residence.
For more than a year, the case remained a priority for the Tucson Police Department. A breakthrough came through the careful collection and analysis of forensic evidence at the scene. This evidence ultimately pointed detectives to a suspect, Alan Rodelo-Velasquez. On November 17, 2016, more than a year after Gordon's death, Rodelo-Velasquez was located by officers during an unrelated call. He was taken into custody without incident and subsequently booked into the Pima County Jail.
Alan Rodelo-Velasquez was charged with First Degree Murder in connection with the death of Daniel Gordon. Despite this significant arrest, authorities indicated that the investigation was not closed. They continued to seek additional information from the public, suggesting that other individuals may have been involved in the home invasion that led to Gordon's death. The case remains a testament to the persistent efforts of law enforcement to bring closure to a violent crime.
