Arizona Home Invasion Leaves One Dead, Suspect Still at Large
Arizona authorities detained one suspect and are searching for another in a home invasion that killed a police academy recruit and critically wounded his fiancée.
Carlos Ramirez, 23, was fatally shot at his residence in southwestern Tucson during the early morning hours of Wednesday, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, as reported by New York Post. The young recruit was just days away from graduating from the police academy on August 27. He had previously served the same department as a corrections officer. His 23-year-old fiancée, whose identity has not been made public, also works as a corrections officer for the department and was wounded in the attack.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos disclosed that the assailants were dressed entirely in black and wore ski masks when they carried out the shooting at approximately 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.
One Suspect Behind Bars, Another Remains Fugitive
Authorities apprehended Santiago Jorge Rogers, 39, at a hotel on South Palo Verda Road in Tucson on Saturday morning, Sheriff Nanos confirmed in an official statement. Rogers is currently being held at the county jail without bond.
A second suspect, Alex James Barnett, 33, remains at large and is actively being sought by law enforcement. Court records reveal Barnett has an extensive criminal history including prior convictions for burglary and weapons offenses. He has also used the alias Alex Wilson. As recently as December 2024, he entered a guilty plea to an unlawful imprisonment charge.
According to FOX 10 Phoenix, Barnett was last observed wearing a red shirt and black leather vest while riding a Harley-Davidson FLHXS motorcycle bearing Arizona license plate DA466.
Criminal Backgrounds and Surveillance Evidence
While Pima County court records show no prior cases for Rogers, a man matching his name and age has accumulated drug and shoplifting convictions in Yavapai County, possession of contraband behind bars in both Navajo and Graham Counties, and several lesser charges in Prescott.
Surveillance footage captured two men identified as Rogers and Barnett dressed in black clothing and purchasing items at a gas station convenience store approximately 20 minutes before the deadly shooting occurred.
Additional surveillance video recorded hours later at a parking lot shows a third unidentified man parking the suspect vehicle—a gray Acura MDX SUV—before walking away from the scene.
The sheriff’s department announced Sunday that detectives had made contact with this third individual, though no arrest has been made as investigators work to establish the extent of his involvement in the crime.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case or Barnett’s current location to contact 911 or 520-88-CRIME.
With information from New York Post
