Police arrested two men and a teenager Wednesday in connection with the slaying of a Quik Mart clerk and were working to catch a fourth suspect.
Armando Ramirez, 30, surrendered to police early Wednesday, two days after a warrant for his arrest had been issued.
Police later arrested Hector Taner Karaca, 17, and Daniel J. Chavez, 20, said Sgt. Mark Robinson, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.
Karaca had been labeled an investigative lead by police while Chavez had yet to be named publicly in the investigation.
Police were still trying to find Manuel Calletano Montano, 27.
A warrant on suspicion of first-degree murder had been issued for Montano. According to court records, Montano and Ramirez are stepbrothers.
Ramirez called 911 just after 12:30 a.m. from a pay phone at 3313 S. Sixth Ave., near Interstate 10, to turn himself in to police two days after a warrant for his arrest had been issued, Robinson said.
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Police arrived at the location within two minutes and took Ramirez into custody without incident, Robinson said.
The details of Karaca's and Chavez's arrests were not released, Robinson said, citing an ongoing investigation.
All three were being held at the Pima County jail.
Ramirez was charged with one count of first-degree murder. His bond was set at $1 million.
Karaca was charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of burglary and one count of being a prohibited possessor of a firearm.
Chavez was charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of burglary and one count of drive-by shooting.
Bond information for Karaca and Chavez wasn't immediately available.
The arrests came four days after 50-year-old Christopher Cottle was gunned down outside the Quik Mart at 3499 S. Wilmot Road, where he was working Saturday.
The shooting occurred after three men entered the store, each grabbing an 18-pack of beer before walking out without paying, officials said at the time.
Cottle, a 15-year employee, was seen on surveillance footage following the men outside. He was later found outside, shot several times, Robinson said. He was pronounced dead a short time after arriving at University Medical Center.
The homicide prompted the Tucson Police Department to form a task force to find the men in the video. On Monday, two suspects, one of them Ramirez, were identified, thanks to an anonymous tip.
On Wednesday, Tucson Police Chief Richard Miranda said he was pleased to hear that Ramirez had been arrested.
"When I learned about this homicide, I said I wanted to put people together and put the heat on because this was a truly senseless crime," Miranda said. "Then this morning, I received four notifications that one had turned himself in and that is because we had people working together for three days straight to find these folks."
Robinson also credited the arrests to the hard work of the task force, adding that the public also came forward to provide crucial information to officers.
"The public really helped put the pressure on these guys," he said.
Ramirez, of the 3200 block of East 29th Street, declined an interview request by the Arizona Daily Star.
He has served prison time for numerous convictions including burglary, attempted theft and driving while under the influence of drugs.
Two convictions stemmed from a 1996 incident in which he stole a car and crashed into a parked vehicle while his two young daughters were with him. He admitted to smoking crack cocaine beforehand.
In a presentencing report, officials wrote that "the defendant has little insight into his criminal behavior or the impact it has on the people around him."
Montano has been found guilty of both shoplifting and assault, and he has been indicted on theft charges, according to online court records.
● Donations to assist Christopher Cottle's family can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank under the Christopher Cottle Memorial Fund, account number 2016620383.
