The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has launched an urgent search for three men tied to a tragic Tuesday morning incident. This shooting claimed the life of a Tucson police recruit and left his fiancé, a corrections officer, wounded and in the hospital.
According to authorities, an arrest warrant has been issued for Alex James Barnett, aged 33, who is among the trio of suspects. As of Friday morning, the identities of the other two suspects have not been released to the public.
Thursday night brought the release of surveillance footage capturing two men dressed in black. The video shows one individual at a gas station located at 5405 West Valencia Road at around 5:20 a.m. on Wednesday. Another clip places a suspect in a parking area near South Palo Verde Road and East 33rd Street at around 10:50 a.m.
A composite image provided by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department displays a surveillance video still of an unidentified male suspect, alongside a photo of 33-year-old Alex James Barnett. These visuals were shared as part of an active manhunt in Tucson, Arizona, following the killing of a 23-year-old local police recruit and the wounding of his corrections officer fiancé. (Pima County Sheriff’s Department)
The hunt has also led authorities to discover a gray Acura MDX SUV, which was abandoned and subsequently recovered by police on Thursday, according to official reports.
One of the unidentified men appears to have tattoos on his arms and legs. He had short, dark hair and a short beard. The person seen dropping off the Acura was pictured only in grainy video and appeared to be wearing a shirt without sleeves.
Still images taken from surveillance video at a Shell gas station at 5405 West Valencia Road in Pima County, Arizona, around 5:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 19. This is shortly before deputies responded to a 911 call nearby and found a Tucson police recruit dead and his fiancee, a Pima County corrections officer, suffering from a gunshot wound. She was hospitalized in stable condition. This unidentified man is one of three suspects deputies are looking for. (Pima County Sheriff’s Department)
The murder victim has been identified as 23-year-old Carlos Ramirez, who was due to graduate from the police academy on Aug. 27 and previously worked as a corrections officer for the sheriff’s department.
His fiancee, also 23, was taken to a hospital in stable condition. Authorities did not immediately release her name.
Pima County investigators are looking to identify this man seen walking away from the suspect vehicle around 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (Pima County Sheriff’s Department)
“The Tucson Police Department is deeply saddened by the passing of Carlos Ramirez, a member of Basic Recruit Class 26-1,” a spokesperson told News Media. “Carlos was fatally shot early this morning. His fiancée was also injured and is currently receiving medical care. Our thoughts are with Carlos’s family and loved ones, his fiancée, and his classmates, instructors, and academy staff during this difficult time.”
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.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and Tucson Police Chief Monico Prieto deliver a news briefing after a double shooting killed a Tucson police recruit and sent a Pima County corrections officer to the hospital on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. The victims shared a child and multiple suspects were at large, authorities said. (Pima County Sheriff’s Department)
It happened at Ramirez’s home in the 7700 block of South Enchanted Spring Drive, about 17 miles southwest of Tucson.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 520-88-CRIME.