Tucson police arrested a second person who they say was involved in a street race that killed a 29-year-old bystander at a northwest-side intersection last week.
Matthew Wayne Leiter, 22, was arrested Friday and booked into the Pima County jail on suspicion of leaving the scene of a serious injury or fatal collision, said Sgt. Matt Ronstadt, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.
The crash on Oct. 15 killed Stephen J. Larson, 29, who was heading to his early morning shift at a northwest-side supermarket.
Two cars were illegally racing through North Oracle and West River roads at about 2:35 a.m. when one of the vehicles hit Larson's car, which was making a left from River onto northbound Oracle, police said.
The driver of the other car, Damaso Alavez, 21, and his passenger suffered non-life threatening injuries in the crash.
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Alavez was later booked into Pima County jail on charges of second-degree murder, endangerment and criminal damage.
Officers found a "small amount" of marijuana, along with a pipe with marijuana residue in Alavez's car, said an interim complaint filed in Pima County Justice Court.
Detectives determined that Leiter returned to the scene after the crash, but left before authorities arrived, Ronstadt said in a news release.
Larson was heading to his job as the morning baker at the Bashas' supermarket at Oracle and East Golder Ranch Drive, said Dev Sethi, his family's lawyer.
He grew up in Tucson and attended school in the Flowing Wells School District, Sethi said in an email.
"He took great care of his mom and grandmother, and the entire family is devastated by this senseless loss," Sethi said. "He was a lovable, caring and generous man."
Contact reporter Jamar Younger at jyounger@azstarnet.com or 573-4115.
