The Victim: Marc Anthony Leech, 23.
When and Where: Nov. 21, 2007, at a Sierra Vista apartment complex.
Investigators: Detective Corporal Sean Brownson of the Sierra Vista Police Department.
Summary: Leech and a group of people were in the parking lot of Mountain View Apartments, 77 El Camino Real, around midnight when another group ambushed them and began firing, Brownson said.
Some people in Leech's group returned fire and in the end, Leech was fatally wounded, two others were shot but survived, and one man suffered head injuries from being pistol-whipped, according to Brownson.
While Leech was found with a gun in hand, he did not fire, Brownson said.
One of the gunmen from the opposing group was shot. He — Thaddeus I. Crawford, 22 — staggered away but was found bleeding a few blocks away.
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Crawford was arrested and booked into the Cochise County jail on one count of first-degree murder after he was treated for his wound.
Crawford's brother, Taurus, 24, fled to Arkansas where he and his brother are originally from, Brownson said. While in Arkansas, Taurus Crawford was arrested on an unrelated matter and he is now awaiting extradition to Sierra Vista on a first-degree murder charge in connection with Leech's death.
It is believed that one of the Crawford brothers — who were living in Sierra Vista at the time — pistol-whipped one of Leech's friends, Brownson said. Another of Leech's friends was shot but managed to return fire, striking Thaddeus Crawford.
The Latest Information: Authorities are now looking for Brandon Omar Buckley, 25, who is believed to be related to the Crawford brothers.
Initially investigators thought the slaying may have been gang-related because Leech was part of a gang, Brownson said. But further investigation revealed multiple motives.
"It is our understanding that there was a longstanding dislike between Brandon Buckley and Marc Leech," Brownson said. "We also suspect that this may have been over drug dealing issues."
Buckley is 5 feet, 9 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair. He has a tattoo on his upper right arm that says "VIP."
His whereabouts are unknown, Brownson said.
"We consider him armed and dangerous and rather desperate right now," Brownson said. "We don't want Buckley to hurt anyone else and it is important that he is brought to justice."
How You Can Help: Contact the Sierra Vista Police Department at 520-458-3311. Or call 88-CRIME, the anonymous tip line of the Pima County Attorney's Office.
● Alexis Huicochea
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The Arizona Daily Star and local public safety agencies are teaming up to report on a different unsolved case or fugitive each week. Please contact authorities if you have information that can solve these violent crimes.
