A Tucson man who handled a gun shortly after it was used to kill his sister’s boyfriend was placed on 18 months probation Tuesday for tampering with evidence.
John Jay Serrano, 26, was indicted on tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution charges on Aug. 1, — eight months after Robert Fisher, 22, was shot to death at the Copper Hill Apartments, 7950 E. Stella Road.
Fisher was at the apartment with his girlfriend, Elisa Nunez, and Serrano when he was shot about 6 p.m. Nov. 19, 2010, according to court documents. Witnesses reported seeing a young Hispanic man running from the scene.
Investigators discovered Serrano had purchased the murder weapon years before and Nunez had recently threatened Fisher, court documents state.
Serrano told police he was visiting with Fisher when someone came into the apartment and fired several shots at Fisher. He followed the shooter outside, picked up a gun he found on the ground and wiped off the prints in a panic once he realized it had been fired, Serrano said.
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Serrano pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence last month. Under the terms of the plea agreement, he could have received up to two years in prison.
Assistant Pima County Public Defender Staci Vierthaler told Pima County Superior Court Judge Teresa Godoy her client was not involved with the murder and has been cooperative with police. As a result of the incident, Serrano now struggles with post traumatic stress syndrome and alcoholism, Vierthaler said.
Up until the time of his arrest, Serrano had managed a grocery store for eight years, Vierthaler said.
The case remains under investigation, Tucson police Sgt. Maria Hawke said.
Anyone with information about the incident can call 911 or 88-CRIME.
Contact reporter Kim Smith at 573-4241 or kimsmith@azstarnet.com
