Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered state buildings to fly flags at half-staff Friday following a mass shooting in Tucson resulting in the loss of Pima County Constable Deborah Martinez-Garibay.
“The loss of Constable Deborah Martinez is felt across our state,” Ducey said. “Whether it was serving in the U.S. Army or carrying out her duties as a constable for Pima County, she dedicated her life to helping others and her community. Constable Martinez was a Tucson native who will be remembered for the way she treated others with dignity and respect. Our thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family, as well as those who also lost their lives in today’s tragic events.”
This is devastating. Arizona is praying for the families of those who lost their lives and the entire Tucson community. We will continue to monitor the situation, and we are grateful to the first responders who acted quickly to protect fellow Arizonans. https://t.co/XWy4WrSu2n
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) August 25, 2022
Martinez-Garibay, 43, was a U.S. Army veteran who enlisted after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, and served in Afghanistan for 16 years before leaving after receiving an injury. After serving the county, she volunteered at local veteran-focused nonprofits and helped at various veteran advisory groups. Martinez-Garibay became Constable in March of 2022 and served for over five months before being killed in the line of duty.
As reported by KOLD News 13, the incident occurred Thursday morning at the Lind Commons Apartments, where Martinez-Garibay and an apartment manager were serving an eviction notice. The tenant, named Gavin Lee Stansell, or a guest of his, had reportedly threatened and intimidated a neighbor with a gun, prompting the eviction. Allegedly, Stansell killed Martinez-Garibay, the manager, and a neighbor with a gun and then turned the weapon on himself. Police said there were no suspects taken into custody.
RIP: This is Pima County Constable Deborah Martinez-Garibay, who was killed Thursday while serving an eviction order at a midtown apartment complex >> https://t.co/4LkGVqCt1t pic.twitter.com/fWy308jA4A
— KOLDNews (@KOLDNews) August 26, 2022
According to the Pima County website, there are ten constables serving in the area. These elected peace officers are responsible for serving the civil and criminal papers of the Pima Justice Court.
An honors ceremony was held as Martinez-Garibay’s body was taken from the apartment complex.
Just watched the honors ceremony as Tucson Police officers escorted the constable’s body out if the Lind Commons Apartment Complex. Her name is Deborah Martinez-Garibay. She was killed in a shooting, along with three others. pic.twitter.com/LcrjGJXpZ6
— Perla Shaheen (@perlashaheen) August 26, 2022
Following the news of her passing, the Pima County Board of Supervisors (BOS) released a statement expressing condolences to Martinez-Garibay’s family.
“On behalf of the Board of Supervisors and fellow Pima County employees, we extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Precinct 8 Constable Deborah Martinez, who was killed today in the line of duty. Our County Constables preform a difficult and important job for the people of this County,” said BOS Chair Sharon Bronson. “They often encounter people at their most vulnerable and emotional, yet they all perform their duties with professionalism and compassion. I am heartbroken at this terrible tragedy and I will keep Constable Martinez and all knew and loved her in my thoughts.”
Statement from Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bronson on the line-of-duty death of Constable Deborah Martinez: pic.twitter.com/KpBJoAPojb
— Official Pima County (@pimaarizona) August 26, 2022
There have reportedly been 91 violent crimes, including shootings, stabbings, and assaults, committed in Tucson so far in 2022.
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Neil Jones is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Neil on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
