TUCSON, Ariz. – On the morning of Dec. 25, a University of Arizona (UA) campus police officer shot and killed a gunman in front of the University Medical Center.
Raul Marquez Jr., 43, was driving three passengers to the University Medical Center in a Ford F-150 when Officer Jeff Wadleigh, 28, attempted to pull him over for driving with a reportedly stolen license plate.
According to police, Marquez refused to pull over until he reached the main entrance of the university hospital, at which point he exited his vehicle with a shotgun and pointed it at Wadleigh. After having his instructions to drop the weapon repeatedly ignored, Wadleigh opened fire and hit Marquez several times.
Medical personnel at the scene immediately attended to Marquez’s wounds but were unable to save him. He died soon after. Wadleigh was unharmed.
The three passengers were also unharmed and confirmed Wadleigh’s account of the shooting. An officer who arrived as the incident was unfolding also supported Wadleigh’s report.
A perfunctory investigation is under way to determine if Wadleigh followed police procedures. Wadleigh is on administrative leave until the investigation is concluded.
According to UA police, this is the first shooting of the year involving the department.
