Suspect arrested, another still at large after Arizona home invasion leaves one dead and fiancée injured

Arizona authorities have arrested a man in connection with a home invasion shooting that killed a Tucson police recruit and left his fiancee hospitalized.

Carlos Ramirez, 23, was shot dead at his home in southwestern Tucson early Wednesday morning, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. He was expected to graduate the police academy on Aug. 27 and had previously worked for PCSD as a corrections officer. His 23-year-old fiancee, whose name has not been released, also works as a corrections officer in the department.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos previously said the suspects were wearing all black clothing and ski masks at the time of the shooting — which happened around 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Carlos Ramirez, a member of TPD Recruit Class 26-1, was shot and killed at his southwest side home on Aug. 19. The Erik Hite Foundation, Tucson Police Department
Santiago Rogers appeared in court on Aug. 22. Pima County

Deputies arrested Santiago Jorge Rogers, 39, at a hotel on South Palo Verda Road in Tucson on Saturday morning, the sheriff said in a statement. He is being held without bond at the county jail.

Alex James Barnett, 33, remains at large. He has a rap sheet that includes prior burglary and weapons convictions and has also been known as Alex Wilson, according to court records. In December 2024, he pleaded guilty to an unlawful imprisonment charge.

According to FOX 10 Phoenix, he was last seen wearing a red shirt and black leather vest and riding a Harley-Davidson FLHXS motorcycle with the Arizona license plate, DA466.

Alex James Barnett is wanted on a charge of first-degree murder for Ramirez’s death. Pima County Sheriff’s Department
Barnett, 33, remains at large. Pima County Sheriff’s Department

A search of Pima County courts for prior cases came back empty for Rogers. However, a man of the same name and age has drug and shoplifting convictions in Yavapai County, possession of contraband behind bars in Navajo and Graham Counties, and a number of lesser charges in Prescott.

Surveillance video shows men identified as Rogers and Barnett in black clothing and picking up items at a gas station convenience store about 20 minutes before the shooting.

Hours later, surveillance video taken from a parking lot shows a third man parking the suspect vehicle, a gray Acura MDX SUV, and walking away.

He has not been publicly identified, but the sheriff’s department said Sunday he had been contacted by detectives.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and Tucson Police Chief Monico Prieto deliver a news briefing on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. Pima County Sheriff’s Department

“No arrest has been made as investigators work to determine his involvement,” the department said.

Anyone with information on the case or Barnett’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or 520-88-CRIME.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *