Saul Saucedo Zavala, 37, was shot and killed on February 20, 2017, on a rural stretch of South Epperson Lane just south of Tucson in Pima County’s jurisdiction. Deputies responded after reports of gunfire around midday and found Saucedo Zavala with gunshot wounds; first responders and Rural Metro Fire personnel attempted lifesaving measures but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators canvassed the area and sought witnesses, noting an early sighting of a man in his 30s leaving in a small gray pickup truck, wearing a gray baseball cap and gray T-shirt.

About two and a half hours later, Tucson authorities were called to a separate homicide on South Fletcher, and detectives explored potential links between the incidents. Law enforcement later identified a suspect believed involved in both cases; local reports say 30-year-old Roque Gutierrez was taken into custody and was arrested for the murder on South Epperson Lane and linked to the later killing.