Deborah Martinez: Constable, 43, shot dead while serving eviction notice at apartment complex in Arizona
TUCSON, ARIZONA: Four people died in a triple murder-suicide at an apartment complex in midtown Tucson on Thursday, August 25. The shooting happened just after 11 am at the Lind Commons Apartments in Tucson. Pima County constable Deborah Martinez-Garibay and Angela Fox-Heath, the apartment manager, were attempting to serve an eviction notice on Gavin Lee Stansell when he opened fire, according to police, New York Post reported.
Fox-Heath, 28, was found fatally hit. Responding officers found her in a courtyard. A SWAT team went into Stansell's apartment and located a wounded Martinez-Garibay, police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene. They found Stansell, 24, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Tucson Police Department confirmed that officers were investigating the shooting as a homicide, but declined to provide further details.
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A wider search of his home found Stansell had entered the apartment next door and fatally shot Elijah Miranda, 25. Police are trying to determine how he was able to gain entry, police spokesman Sgt Richard Gradillas said. Investigators don't yet know why the constable entered the apartment or whether Stansell had tried to reject the notice. There were no witnesses to the attack, Gradillas said. He doubted if there was a video of the incident, saying he didn't think the constable was wearing a body camera.
“I’m heartbroken to learn the news that our Pima County Constable, Deborah Martinez, was killed while doing her job today,” Arizona Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick said in a statement. “Deborah was a great public servant and notable advocate for veterans, may we honor her life and commitment to our community.” Martinez-Garibay, an Army veteran and Tucson native, was appointed to the constable’s position in March. At the time, she said she felt she could make a difference in the role serving the community.
I’m heartbroken to learn the news that our Pima County Constable, Deborah Martinez, was killed while doing her job today. Deborah was a great public servant and notable advocate for veterans, may we honor her life and commitment to our community.
— Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (@RepKirkpatrick) August 26, 2022
“I joined the Army after September 11, and I just felt that it was wrong for me to sit at home when I knew that I could contribute,” Martinez-Garibay said, according to the Arizona Daily Star. “It’s the same thing with serving my community, I can see a need.” She said she would approach eviction proceedings with “empathy and humanity,” according to the local newspaper. “When I deal with the people that I have to evict, I understand that’s my responsibility, but they’re still people,” Martinez-Garibay said. “Just giving some basic dignity and respect can go so far in helping these people rebuild their lives.”
Former Constable Kristen Randall had grown frustrated with having to serve people with eviction notices while not being able to help them stay in their homes. "When a force for good can so easily be a force of pain and destruction, we should examine how this archaic position can better fit the needs of a changing community," Randall said in her February 13 resignation letter.
In 2019, Martinez-Garibay was honored for her work and received a vehicle from the Recycled Ride program, KPHO-TV reported. In 2017 and 2018, Martinez-Garibay led the Tucson chapter of the PGA Hope program, KOLD-TV reported. The program sought to bring together military veterans with any disability and golf professionals. "The biggest thing that I am seeing is more than they're happy about learning the game of golf, they're happy to have the social interaction with other veterans," Martinez-Garibay said at the time.
This is the latest incident pointing to the dangers of serving eviction notices. On Monday, an Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office deputy was fatally shot and a second deputy was wounded while they attempted to serve eviction papers at a home near Oklahoma City, officials said.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).