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This is a pure case of murder, but, they will get away with it, Officer Safety and all...
Deputies probe Hartigan shooting death
Friends say the actions of the Cinco de Mayo 10K road race organizer were completely out of character.
ERIC SAGARA
Tucson Citizen
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Investigators are trying to piece together why Tucsonan Michael A. Hartigan disobeyed authorities in an incident that ended when a deputy and sergeant shot and killed him.
Hartigan, 58, was a racing promoter and a popular runner in Tucson responsible for organizing the Cinco de Mayo race.
Deputy Derrick Tyra and Sgt. John Westmoreland shot and killed Hartigan on Friday night after he pointed a carrying case similar to one that would hold a shotgun or rifle at them, said Deputy Dawn Barkman, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman.
Hartigan had been dealing with his mother's recent death and coverage of last week's controversial finish to the Tucson Heartgroup Cinco de Mayo race, said his friend Randy Accetta.
Julio Felix crossed the finish line first but was disqualified for making a premature turn that took him off course. Though there is no cash award for winning the race, Hartigan paid Felix $2,500 with a personal check, said Accetta, president of the Southern Arizona Roadrunners.
But that incident, the death of Hartigan's mother and coming to terms with aging don't explain Hartigan's actions, Accetta said.
"It to me feels completely shocking and out of character for the Mike Hartigan that I've known for 10 years, which leads me to think that something very deep has been troubling him," he said.
Barkman gave this account of Friday's events:
A friend of Hartigan's girlfriend called 911 to report a disturbance at Hartigan's house, in the 4300 block of East Placita Baja.
Westmoreland, Tyra and Deputy Miguel Flores were on their way to Hartigan's house when Hartigan's girlfriend called 911 and told dispatchers he had a gun in his car and was threatening to shoot anyone who came near him.
Sheriff's officials found Hartigan and his girlfriend standing outside his home, near Skyline Drive and Swan Road. The officials ordered Hartigan to show his hands and stay away from his red Jaguar.
Hartigan got into the car, grabbed the dark green canvas case and swung it toward Flores.
Hartigan had just brought the Jaguar that day, Accetta said.
Tyra fired a rifle six times, and Westmoreland fired three shots from his handgun, striking Hartigan at least once. They were standing about seven to 10 feet from him when they opened fire. Flores did not fire.
Hartigan was pronounced dead at University Medical Center. Investigators have not found a gun, Barkman said.
Tyra, Westmoreland and Flores have been put on paid administrative leave, which is standard in such cases, she said.
Deputies probe Hartigan shooting death
Friends say the actions of the Cinco de Mayo 10K road race organizer were completely out of character.
ERIC SAGARA
Tucson Citizen
advertisement
Investigators are trying to piece together why Tucsonan Michael A. Hartigan disobeyed authorities in an incident that ended when a deputy and sergeant shot and killed him.
Hartigan, 58, was a racing promoter and a popular runner in Tucson responsible for organizing the Cinco de Mayo race.
Deputy Derrick Tyra and Sgt. John Westmoreland shot and killed Hartigan on Friday night after he pointed a carrying case similar to one that would hold a shotgun or rifle at them, said Deputy Dawn Barkman, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman.
Hartigan had been dealing with his mother's recent death and coverage of last week's controversial finish to the Tucson Heartgroup Cinco de Mayo race, said his friend Randy Accetta.
Julio Felix crossed the finish line first but was disqualified for making a premature turn that took him off course. Though there is no cash award for winning the race, Hartigan paid Felix $2,500 with a personal check, said Accetta, president of the Southern Arizona Roadrunners.
But that incident, the death of Hartigan's mother and coming to terms with aging don't explain Hartigan's actions, Accetta said.
"It to me feels completely shocking and out of character for the Mike Hartigan that I've known for 10 years, which leads me to think that something very deep has been troubling him," he said.
Barkman gave this account of Friday's events:
A friend of Hartigan's girlfriend called 911 to report a disturbance at Hartigan's house, in the 4300 block of East Placita Baja.
Westmoreland, Tyra and Deputy Miguel Flores were on their way to Hartigan's house when Hartigan's girlfriend called 911 and told dispatchers he had a gun in his car and was threatening to shoot anyone who came near him.
Sheriff's officials found Hartigan and his girlfriend standing outside his home, near Skyline Drive and Swan Road. The officials ordered Hartigan to show his hands and stay away from his red Jaguar.
Hartigan got into the car, grabbed the dark green canvas case and swung it toward Flores.
Hartigan had just brought the Jaguar that day, Accetta said.
Tyra fired a rifle six times, and Westmoreland fired three shots from his handgun, striking Hartigan at least once. They were standing about seven to 10 feet from him when they opened fire. Flores did not fire.
Hartigan was pronounced dead at University Medical Center. Investigators have not found a gun, Barkman said.
Tyra, Westmoreland and Flores have been put on paid administrative leave, which is standard in such cases, she said.
