On the evening of Thursday, January 20, 2022, in Tucson, Arizona, a violent encounter tragically ended the life of 36-year-old Alejandra Valles Valenzuela. A Hispanic woman, Valenzuela was in the 1100 block of East Irvington Road when the fatal shooting occurred. The incident, which took place around 11:00 p.m. in a parking lot near Campbell Avenue and Bilby Road, also left a male companion of Valenzuela's injured.
Initial reports from the Tucson Police Department indicated that
Valenzuela and her companion were leaving an apartment complex in a pickup truck when they were confronted by an individual. An argument escalated, leading to the assailant firing multiple shots into the vehicle. Valenzuela was struck and died at the scene from her injuries. Her boyfriend was transported to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. In the immediate aftermath, authorities were left with many questions and no identified suspect.
Several weeks after the shooting, a breakthrough in the case occurred. On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, police arrested 31-year-old Emilio Casimiro Lopez in connection with the death of Alejandra Valles Valenzuela. His apprehension came after he was reported for trespassing in several residential yards. Lopez was taken into custody with the assistance of a K9 unit and received treatment for minor injuries sustained during the arrest. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault and booked into the Pima County Jail with a bond set at $500,000.
