Vanessa Gongora joined KGUN 9 as a multimedia journalist in December of 2024. Born and raised in Southern California, her move to Tucson means she's not too far away from home.
Pima County officials and law enforcement are working on a plan to address ongoing gunfire from nearby desert land that is hitting homes in the Eagle Point Estates neighborhood on the Westside near Valencia and Vahalla.
About two weeks ago, neighbors spoke with KGUN 9 about bullets flying through the area and hitting their homes. They have been pleading for help from Pima County and now they are finally getting some answers.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dodging bullets: Westside neighbors call for action after gunfire hits homesAndrés Cano, Pima County Supervisor for District 5, calls the situation unacceptable.'I’m always going to be on the side of nobody should be sitting in their home or come back to their home with a bullet hole. That ultimately is something we’ve got to take seriously and I’m gonna take it seriously and I will not rest until these neighbors have assurances that we listen to their concerns and that there is a plan forward with our law enforcement and also with our state agencies to do this,' Cano said.Cano said there have already been conversations with the Pima County Sheriff's Department about increased patrols in the area. 'And also a community meeting with some of these neighbors that have sent a petition over our way. The meeting is in the works. I'm told it'll be happening in the next two weeks,' Cano said. I went back to the neighbors with his response.'I appreciate his input and hope that he can really help us out out here. So we're pleading to him to really step in with us and see what's going on,' Carlos Sam said. 'Our children are in danger. In fact, family members are in danger. It's no fun, you know, having to live the way that we're living right now, so it's very unsafe.'Pete Smith added, 'Hopefully with everything you're doing and everything picking up traction, hopefully we can get some resolutions happening over the next few days. Cause weeks is just more opportunity for the gunfire to continue to happen. So the sooner the better obviously.'Neighbors say the gunfire is coming from the desert behind their homes on weekend nights, with the most recent gunfire happening on Easter Sunday. 'As soon as you hear the riding, you know the shooting is going to start. And that’s what happened, a lot of gunfire last night. A lot of the neighbors call,' Sam said.Supervisor Cano advises the neighbors to continue to call 911 anytime gunfire is going off.'They are helping us keep a paper trail of documentation and ultimately what we've got to do now is figure out how our county works with our state partners, especially on the land that the state owns to be able to ensure that we have greater enforcement,' Cano said.Kim Tatsumi and other neighbors are worried about celebrating upcoming holidays.'It’s just been gunfire after dark like crazy. I can’t imagine Cinco de Mayo, what that’s gonna be like. Are we all gonna have to shelter in our homes and not go out that night because we're afraid of gunfire?' Tatsumi said. 'I mean it's quite frankly ridiculous.'Sam's 8-year-old daughter Samantha is one of many children affected. She said she hears the gunshots often and feels bad about it because they do not get to play outside. She said she wants people to stop shooting because nobody likes it.Smith pointed out where another bullet landed in a different neighbor's garage. He is concerned someone will get hurt.'There's a process. I get it. I totally get it but again when you’re dealing with people’s lives, it’s a hard pill to swallow,' Smith said. 'Because we're not talking just people riding ATV's. I'm pretty sure if it was just the noise, you wouldn't even be here. But you start talking bullets, which hitting people's garages and could potentially going into people's windows and harm somebody, the sense of urgency needs to be heightened.'KGUN 9 reached out to PCSD regarding a bullet that went through one family's home.'Our department reviewed this case, including the report and body-worn camera footage. The review indicates the responding deputy conducted a thorough investigation and clarified there are investigative challenges in determining who fired the round, not that no action could be taken. Our Criminal Investigations Division continues to review the incident,' PCSD said in a statement. PCSD says the area where the reported gunfire is coming from is State Trust Land and that they will continue to coordinate with the Arizona State Land Department on issues including illegal shooting, off-road vehicle activity, noise, and encampments.The statement goes on to say, 'Deputies have conducted targeted deployments in recent months and will continue proactive patrols in priority areas. The Arizona State Land Department has jurisdiction and has posted “No Trespassing” signage. Decisions regarding access or closure rest with that agency.'This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Eagle Point Estates Gunfire Pima County District 5 Supervisor Pima County Sheriff's Dept.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pima County Sheriff Faces Scrutiny Amid Missing Person Case and Gun IncidentPima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is under scrutiny following a loaded gun incident at Tucson International Airport and ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC host Savannah Guthrie. The case, which began in early February, remains unsolved and has drawn national attention. Nanos is also facing allegations of misconduct, intensifying public and official scrutiny.
Read more »
Easter Weekend Events Rescheduled and Canceled Due to Expected Rain in Baldwin County and MobileLocal churches and organizations in Baldwin County and Mobile are adapting their Easter weekend plans due to predicted inclement weather. Forward Church in Mobile has moved its Easter event to Saturday, while the Eastern Shore Optimist Club has canceled its Sunrise Service, prioritizing safety and ensuring a positive experience for all.
Read more »
Preparation for May 19 primaries underway in Coffee CountySavannah Guthrie made her return as host of the NBC morning show after more than two months.
Read more »
Soros-Funded Virginia County Attorney Claims Deportation Is a ‘Perversion of Justice’Source of breaking news and analysis, insightful commentary and original reporting, curated and written specifically for the new generation of independent and conservative thinkers.
Read more »
Tiger Woods is still 'a catch' in Palm Beach: 'Vanessa will never leave him'Tiger Woods told cops he called President Trump after he rolled his Land Rover SUV, and moments before he was arrested for DUI, according to bodycam video. The legendary golfer waited patiently in the police cruiser while the cops prepped his field sobriety test. At one point, he sauntered away from the vehicle to chat with someone on the phone.
Read more »
Arizona Senate Investigates Pima County's ICE RestrictionsArizona Senate leaders have initiated an investigation into Pima County's policies restricting ICE access to county property. The investigation, prompted by a resolution, will determine if the county's actions violate state or federal law, with potential consequences including policy changes, loss of revenue, or referral to the Arizona Supreme Court. Senate leaders accuse the county of prioritizing radical agendas over public safety by hindering law enforcement.
Read more »