This article has been updated as of 4:33 p.m. Sept. 26 to reflect information included in a Sept. 26 press conference.
The University of Arizona Police Department arrested a suspect in connection with Sunday’s on-campus shooting late Wednesday afternoon.
At 3:10 p.m. Ryan Romero-Encinas, 20, returned to his apartment to turn himself in. His roommates quickly called 9-1-1. The Tucson Police Department and UAPD responded to arrest him.
Romero-Encinas was taken into custody without incident at 3:32 p.m. at 850 E. Wetmore Road. He has since been booked into the Pima County Jail where he remains in custody with no bond.
The suspect has provided no information at this time about why he turned himself in. Police obtained a weapon but could not confirm that it was the murder weapon.
Romero-Encinas is facing charges of murder in the first degree after Sunday’s shooting outside Arizona-Sonora Residence Hall resulted in the death of 19-year-old Minhaj Jamshidi, a student at Pima Community College.
According to UAPD Chief of Police Chris Olson, the suspect and victim were playing a volleyball game with other people which led to small fights and ultimately the shooting.
Olson added that police are, “aware of prior altercations between these groups, but […] have no information that suggests that [they] led to the shooting.”
UAPD released Romero-Encinas’ name as a suspect Tuesday afternoon.
Before this arrest, students and faculty throughout the university had raised concerns about delays in the UAlert system and the safety of attending classes while a suspect remained on the loose.
Olson said the UAlert system fell short, but did not clarify what issues there were with the system.
“We were quickly overwhelmed, and I take full responsibility. We’ve already implemented immediate changes to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” Olson said.
In response to the university’s decision to not cancel classes Chief of TPD, Chad Kasmar said, “A small population of individuals are not going to control the atmosphere and environment of Tucson or this university. As Chief of Police I commend UA leadership for not canceling classes.”
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