Two suspects who broke into a South Side home and killed a man were looking for drugs, Tucson police said.
After a short pursuit, police arrested Dennis Bernard Harvey, 25, and Joseph Daniel Smith, 26. They were booked into the Pima County Jail and charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
Police Sgt. Mark Robinson said the two, along with one other man who has not been arrested, broke into the house in the 600 block of West Calle Lerdo at 2:10 a.m. yesterday. He said there were three people in the home when the three masked men entered.
Steven R. Anaya, 42, heard the commotion and ran into the living room, where his two children, one adult and one teenager, and his toddler granddaughter were.
“He stepped forward like any dad would do … then he immediately got shot,” Robinson said, calling him an “innocent victim.”
Anaya died at the scene.
Anaya worked for Asarco’s Mission Mine, south of Tucson, as a crusher operator, said Sonia Bejarano, his live-in girlfriend of more than 20 years.
Police were led to Harvey and Smith after witnesses described a pickup that left the area just after the shooting. Police stopped it near West Ajo Way and Interstate 19.
Lt. James Rizzi tried to stop the truck, Robinson said, and arrested its driver after he tried to flee. One of two passengers then took the wheel and led police on a short pursuit before running into a police car. One of the passengers was arrested, and the other fled.
Harvey and Smith were detained for questioning, but Robinson did not know which one was the driver and which was the passenger. The third suspect has not been located.
Robinson said investigators questioned the duo and learned that they had targeted the house, looking for drugs. He said police do not know why Harvey and Smith, along with the other suspect, thought there were drugs in the house and have found no evidence that there were any.
Detectives have not established any relationship between the suspects and the victims.
Robinson said detectives recovered more than one firearm used in the home invasion.
Harvey and Smith, who live in the 2600 block of South Mission Road, are being held on $1 million bail. Court records show that Harvey was convicted in January of possession or sale of marijuana and ordered to complete eight hours of drug education and counseling.
By Heidi Rowley, David L. Teibel