Latest Update - June 2, 2008 1:05 pm - Tucson Police Officer Eric Hite has died after being shot during Sunday's shooting rampage. He was on life support after authorities say 25-year-old David Nickolas Delich shot him in the head. Hite, a 4 year veteran of the department is a 21 year veteran of the Air Force. He leaves behind a wife, one year old daughter and a son serving in the military.
During his first court appearance Monday morning, a judge ordered David Nickolas Delich to be held on 2.5 million dollars bond. He faces nine felony charges, including four counts of attempted murder.
The Pima County sheriff's department says Delich, 25, went on a shooting rampage Sunday morning shortly before 10 a.m. when Delich reportedly shot at two homes in the 8400 block of North Placita de la Manzana, near Shannon Road and Club Drive, Richard Kastigar, a Pima County Sheriff Bureau Chief said. Delitch, who was clad in camouflage, was driving a red Mustang convertible and was armed with an assault rifle and a large amount of ammunition, officials said.
A Sheriff's deputy spotted Delich west of Ina and Oracle roads and began to pursue him but when they reached the intersection, the gunman fired, striking the deputy in the right shoulder, Kastigar said.
The deputy continued to chase the Mustang but lost sight of it, he said.
Other officers caught up with the Mustang near Swan and River roads and the chase resumed, Kastigar said. More shots were fired around the Tanque Verde Bridge at Wrightstown Road but no one was injured.
During that pursuit, in the area of Tanque Verde Road and Tomahawk Trail, near Houghton Road, the driver made an abrupt left turn and fired at a Tucson Police officer. The officer was shot in the head, Kastigar said. The officer was taken to University Medical Center where he died Monday afternoon.
The gunman made his way on to the Mount Lemmon Highway where he would fire at another deputy, resulting in a mild wound to the head, Kastigar said.
The two deputies suffered from non-life threatening injuries and have been released from the hospital. They've been identified as Deputy Tory Schwartz and Deputy Eric Cervantez.
Delitch was located at Molino Basin and taken into custody. No motive has been determined.
During his first court appearance Monday morning, a judge ordered David Nickolas Delich to be held on 2.5 million dollars bond. He faces nine felony charges, including four counts of attempted murder.
The Pima County sheriff's department says Delich, 25, went on a shooting rampage Sunday morning shortly before 10 a.m. when Delich reportedly shot at two homes in the 8400 block of North Placita de la Manzana, near Shannon Road and Club Drive, Richard Kastigar, a Pima County Sheriff Bureau Chief said. Delitch, who was clad in camouflage, was driving a red Mustang convertible and was armed with an assault rifle and a large amount of ammunition, officials said.
A Sheriff's deputy spotted Delich west of Ina and Oracle roads and began to pursue him but when they reached the intersection, the gunman fired, striking the deputy in the right shoulder, Kastigar said.
The deputy continued to chase the Mustang but lost sight of it, he said.
Other officers caught up with the Mustang near Swan and River roads and the chase resumed, Kastigar said. More shots were fired around the Tanque Verde Bridge at Wrightstown Road but no one was injured.
During that pursuit, in the area of Tanque Verde Road and Tomahawk Trail, near Houghton Road, the driver made an abrupt left turn and fired at a Tucson Police officer. The officer was shot in the head, Kastigar said. The officer was taken to University Medical Center where he died Monday afternoon.
The gunman made his way on to the Mount Lemmon Highway where he would fire at another deputy, resulting in a mild wound to the head, Kastigar said.
The two deputies suffered from non-life threatening injuries and have been released from the hospital. They've been identified as Deputy Tory Schwartz and Deputy Eric Cervantez.
Delitch was located at Molino Basin and taken into custody. No motive has been determined.
