A mass shooting occurred around 2 a.m. on July 19 in a busy nightlife and entertainment district near East Congress Street and Sixth Avenue in downtown Tucson, Arizona, injuring 10 people including the suspected gunman [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8].
The suspect, identified as 21-year-old David Leroy French, opened fire on bystanders in a crowded area, wounding nine adults who were treated for gunshot injuries primarily to their arms and legs. He was shot by police during the incident and hospitalized with life-threatening injuries [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8].
Police officers on routine foot patrol heard the gunfire and responded quickly. After issuing repeated commands, officers shot the suspect as he fled the scene. No officers were injured [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8].
Authorities have not released the motive or specific trigger for the shooting. Local broadcaster KGUN-TV and some officials believe the gunfire stemmed from a confrontation between two groups of acquaintances, with bystanders caught in the crossfire [4, 7].
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, working with the Tucson Police Department, is leading the investigation [5, 8]. French faces more than 19 charges including multiple counts of aggravated assault and firearm offenses [8].
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero condemned the shooting, stating, "A shooter recklessly began shooting in a crowded area striking nine people before being stopped by a Tucson Police Officer" and called the city's gun laws "weak," saying, "Easy access to guns and Arizona’s weak gun safety laws have continued to put all of us at risk" [4, 5].
The Gun Violence Archive counted this incident as the 257th mass shooting in the U.S. in 2026, defining mass shootings as those injuring four or more people [1, 2, 3, 6].
Local residents expressed concern over safety in downtown nightlife areas. Roxanne Brown said, "Definitely it's not as safe as it used to be because I know there's all kinds of fighting happening," while Anais Camacho added, "I always tell my family and friends this: Once we’re out at 1:30 a.m., let’s go home because after 1:30 people always start fighting" [7].
