Deputies serving a search warrant on Tucson's southwest side shot and killed a 26-year-old man after he fired a rifle at them, officials said.
At about 9:30 a.m. Thursday the Pima Regional SWAT team arrived at the residence in the 7100 block of South Redwater Drive, near West Valencia and South Wade roads, said Deputy Jason Ogan, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokes-man.
Jose Guerena was inside with his wife and their 4-year-old son when he fired at deputies who had entered the home, Ogan said. It was unknown if the woman and child were in the same room as Guerena.
The SWAT team announced themselves before they went into the house, although Ogan wouldn't elaborate on what caused officers to force their way into the home.
Guerena fired his AR-15 rifle at the deputies, who were holding up shields, Ogan said.
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At least one of the shields was struck by gunfire, he said.
Deputies fired back, killing Guerena, Ogan said.
Authorities were still investigating how many shots Guerena and the SWAT team fired at each other, he said.
Nobody else was injured during the shooting.
Deputies would not comment on the nature of the search warrant.
Authorities spent most of Thursday in the quiet neighborhood investigating the shooting.
The blocked streets, yellow "do not cross" tape and sheriff's command post vehicles were an unusual site for neighbors.
Maria Peralta said Guerena and his family had been living in the house for about two months, although she did not know them.
The house was up for rent prior to the family moving in, said Peralta, who has lived in the neighborhood for about three years.
"I saw the SWAT team get here and take the woman out," she said.
Michael Griffin lives in a nearby house with his father and other family members.
He was away at the store, but was talking on the phone with his father, who was at home, he said.
"In the background, I heard 'pop, pop, pop,' " Griffin said. "There was shooting and cops everywhere."
This is the third fatal shooting involving the Pima Regional SWAT team since last August.
• On March 27, SWAT members shot and killed a suicidal man on the northwest side after he became a threat to officers during a standoff.
• On Aug. 27, 2010, SWAT officers shot and killed a man outside his northwest-side home. During the standoff, the man came at officers with a knife and a hammer when he was shot. Authorities found the man's girlfriend dead inside the home. The man had called 911 and said he had killed her.
Contact reporter Jamar Younger at jyounger@azstarnet.com or 573-4115.
