One suspect dead, another arrested in connection with Southside murder

An arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of Manuel A. Avechuco, 44, in the city’s south end on September 13.

Ambernovana Guadalupe Gradillas, 24, was arrested on suspicion of murder. Her boyfriend and alleged accomplice, Alejandro Ray Gamez, shot himself in the head before being arrested.

According to the preliminary complaint, Gamez told Gradillas that he needed money to leave town, after a series of armed robberies. Gradillas told police that Gamez wanted to rob Avechuco.

Gradillas told investigators she arranged to meet Avechuco near Mission Manor Park to buy drugs, according to the complaint.

During the meeting, Gradillas sat in the front passenger seat and retrieved a small amount of cocaine from Avechuco, according to the complaint.

Gamez approached the car and tried to enter through the driver’s side front door, which was locked. He then went around and opened the passenger side front door where Gradillas was sitting.

Gamez shot Avechuco, according to the complaint. Avechuco drove the car a short distance before stopping and falling.

Gradillas then got into the car and drove around the corner, before fleeing the scene with Gamez, according to the complaint.

Tucson police responded to the shooting around 10:30 p.m. where they found Avechuco in the roadway at West Calle Evelina near South Calle Pinta, according to a Tucson police news release.

Avechuco was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the investigation, Gradillas was identified as a person of interest, according to the news release. As details emerged, detectives eventually charged Gradillas with murder, according to the news release.

Additional information revealed that Gamez, Gradillas and an accomplice committed a series of robberies on September 10, including an armed robbery at the Mezo Smoke Shop on East Speedway.

Gamez then shot and killed the accomplice in a South Park after the robbery, the news release said.

Police located Gamez at an apartment complex on September 14. Gamez fired at police, damaging a patrol vehicle, and then ultimately killed himself.

In addition to murder, Gradillas was charged with multiple counts of armed robbery and aggravated robbery.