In a tragic event that unfolded in a single-story house in a south-side Tucson neighborhood, 32-year-old Erik Carrillo, a White / Caucasian male, lost his life on May 12, 2015. The home, which had been in the family for over two decades, became a scene of immense sorrow and investigation after a man visiting the residence discovered the bodies and alerted the authorities.
Upon their arrival, Tucson police found a horrific scene with five deceased individuals, all of whom were members of
the same family and showed signs of gunshot trauma. The victims were identified as Erik Carrillo, his 58-year-old father Raul Carrillo, his 53-year-old mother Karen Saari, and his 17-year-old niece Isela Rodriguez, who had been visiting her grandparents. The investigation concluded that it was a murder-suicide.
The perpetrator was identified as 25-year-old Christopher Carrillo, Erik's relative. It was determined that Christopher shot and killed the four family members before turning the 9mm handgun on himself. As the suspect took his own life, no arrests were made in the case. The motive behind the devastating act was not definitively established by law enforcement, though Christopher's sister and Isela's mother suggested that her brother's mental illness was to blame for the tragedy. A friend of the family mentioned that Christopher's behavior had been concerning, noting that he would giggle excessively. The community was left in shock and sadness by the loss of the Carrillo family.
