Tucson, AZ: Police identify man killed in west side standoff and his wife, found dead

TUCSON - Tucson Police have identified the man who caused a police standoff in a west side neighborhood for several hours yesterday; the suspect was shot and killed by a SWAT officer, and the suspect's wife was found dead inside the home.

At about 12:28 p.m. Thursday, TPD received a 911 call from a woman requesting a welfare check of her family members, according to a news release from the department. She reported that she had been locked out of her home in the 2000 block of W. Saddle Hills Drive, and upon trying to enter, she heard a single gunshot from inside.

The woman reported that she believed her 46-year-old son, later identified as Eric Lee Davis, had shot himself or his 34-year-old wife, later identified as Samantha Davis, the news release states. Officers arrived within six minutes of the call, and evacuated the mother to safety as officers contained the area.

"As officers were establishing a perimeter, they began receiving gunfire from within the residence," the release states. "In excess of 25 shots were fired at the officers, pinning at least one of them down with little to no protective cover."

Nearby Brichta Elementary School and the surrounding neighborhood were locked down, and SWAT officers and a Hostage Negotiation Unit were called in, the release states. Information gathered indicated that Davis may have been keeping his wife inside the house against her will, and it was unclear whether or not their two children were also inside.

Over the next several hours, negotiators attempted to establish a "productive dialogue" with Davis, but they were unsuccessful, the release states. Officers determined a tactical intervention had the potential to put Samantha Davis in greater danger.

At about 5:30 p.m., the suspect presented himself near a sliding glass door, and a SWAT officer "utilize deadly force against him," the release states. Officers entered the home and found Samantha Davis dead in a bedroom on the second floor of the home.

Detectives from the Night Detective Unit and Homicide Unit arrived to continue the investigation. The Office of Internal Affairs will conduct a separate administrative investigation, which is standard protocol when an officer discharges their weapon in the line of duty, the TPD release states.

The SWAT officer is Detective and Acting Sergeant, Benjamin Frie, a 10-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department and member of the SWAT team for the past four years.