07/28/16 Tucson, AZ – Bank Robber – Crash – Shootout – Steals Marana Patrol Car – Chase – Carjacks Civilian – Crash – Shootout – Steals Second Police Car From Tucson – Shot And Killed

July 28, 2016

kvoa.com

Police say a bank robbery suspect who stole a Marana patrol car, led officers on a high speed chase, got into a shootout on I-19, carjacked a driver on Valencia, and was shot and killed near the U of A campus Thursday afternoon has been identified as 31-year-old Jesus Rael.

Police said Rael had a history of violent crime and was affiliated with both street and prison gangs.

According to the Marana Police Sgt. Chris Warren, detectives and plain clothes officers were tracking Rael, a suspect who they identified as the man who robbed the Bank of America at Cortaro and Silverbell Road on Wednesday.

Marana police said the crime spree started Thursday at around 1:40 p.m. when officers located Rael in a vehicle near Mission Road and Calle Del Rey on the southwest side of Tucson.

Sgt. Warren said Rael rammed into one of the detective’s vehicles and then took off. MPD said officers in two patrol cars initiated a pursuit when Rael crashed his vehicle on I-19 and Ajo Way.

MPD said Rael, armed with a shotgun, then began shooting at officers. As officers were taking cover, they said Rael was able to take control of a Marana patrol car. He then took off heading southbound on I-19 and exited at Valencia Road.

Rael then ditched the Marana patrol car in the parking lot of a medical plaza located at 1400 W. Valencia Rd. MPD said Rael then carjacked an elderly man, ran him over and then fled in the stolen white Chevrolet Malibu. The elderly victim was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Several law enforcement agencies joined the search, including Tucson Police, Pima County Sheriff’s, Department of Public Safety and UAPD.

Moments later, Tucson police said an officer located Rael and tried to pull him over near East 22nd Street and Country Club Road, but he refused to stop.

TPD said its officer pursued Rael who then crashed as he tried to turn onto East 8th Street from North Campbell Avenue, near the University of Arizona campus.

TPD said Rael then got out of the stolen vehicle, ran to the front yard of a nearby house, and began shooting at the officer with a shotgun. The officer returned fire and struck Rael.

TPD said Rael then got into the officers patrol car and tried to flee when two other officers arrived and pinned the patrol car, keeping him from getting away a third time.

The officers took Rael into custody and said he had obvious gunshot wounds. He was taken to Banner-UMC where he was pronounced dead.

According to MPD, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the shootout involving its officers. The Marana officers have been placed on

Administrative Leave which is standard protocol in this type of incident.

TPD said detectives from the Violent Crimes Section is conducting a criminal investigation into the officer-involved shooting. The Office of Professional Standards will conduct a separate and parallel investigation to examine the actions of the department personnel in response to the incident. This is standard protocol in all officer involved shootings.

No officers were injured in the incident.