On a Sunday morning in June of 2008, the life of a dedicated officer, a White male named Erik David Hite, 43, was tragically cut short in a violent ambush. The events that led to his death began to unfold when a man opened fire on the homes of his neighbors. A Pima County Sheriff's deputy was the first to respond to the scene and was met with gunfire from the suspect, sustaining a wound.
The gunman then fled, sparking a frantic pursuit across Tucson, Arizona.
Members of the Tucson Police Department, including Officer Hite, soon joined the chase. The suspect, however, was not easily deterred and continued to fire at the pursuing officers. The chase took a deadly turn when the gunman veered off Tanque Verde Road onto Tomahawk Trail. There, he strategically positioned himself, setting up an ambush for the officers in pursuit. As Officer Hite rounded the corner, the suspect opened fire from approximately 80 yards away, striking the officer in the head.
Even after fatally wounding Officer Hite, the gunman's rampage was not over. He continued to flee and managed to wound another deputy before he was finally taken into custody. The violent spree that had crossed the city and endangered numerous lives had come to an end, but not before leaving a trail of devastation. Officer Hite, a four-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department and a U.S. Air Force veteran, succumbed to his injuries the following day, on June 2, 2008.
In the aftermath, the judicial process began for the man responsible for the day of terror. In February 2012, the suspect pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the death of Officer Hite. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. However, it was determined that he would not begin serving his sentence until he was deemed competent enough to be released from a state hospital.
