Frank Jabbar Perkins

Frank Jabbar Perkins, a 49-year-old Black man known to family as Frank Jabbar Perkins Sr., was a father whose life was violently taken on a bright Monday morning in Tucson, Arizona. His death left a void in the lives of his loved ones, who were forced to confront a future suddenly and irrevocably altered by a brief, brutal encounter.

The day of the shooting, June 14, 2021, began uneventfully in the midtown neighborhood near the intersection of East Blacklidge Drive and North Country Club Road. At approximately 8:30 a.m., the morning calm was shattered by a confrontation. According to the Tucson Police Department, an altercation broke out between two separate groups of people. Witnesses in the vicinity later reported hearing the sharp sound of several gunshots immediately following the dispute. Police were dispatched to the area after receiving reports of both the gunfire and a vehicle that had come to a stop in the middle of the roadway.

When officers arrived at the scene near 2900 N. Country Club Road, they found a harrowing sight. Inside a vehicle was Frank Perkins, suffering from critical gunshot wounds. In the moments before law enforcement’s arrival, compassionate community members had already rushed to his side and were attempting to provide first aid. Paramedics from the Tucson Fire Department quickly took over emergency medical care and transported him to Banner-University Medical Center with what police described as life-threatening injuries.

For four agonizing days, doctors and hospital staff worked tirelessly to save Mr. Perkins's life. His family waited, hoping for a miracle that would not come. The injuries he sustained were too severe, and on Friday, June 18, 2021, Frank Jabbar Perkins died at the hospital. His next of kin were notified, and what began as an aggravated assault investigation became a homicide case.

The Tucson Police Department’s Homicide Unit took charge of the investigation. Detectives began the painstaking work of processing the crime scene, collecting evidence, and interviewing potential witnesses. They sought to construct a clear timeline of the events that escalated from a verbal argument to a fatal shooting. Investigators confirmed that Perkins was involved in the initial altercation, but further details about the nature of the dispute, what led to the gunfire, or who was responsible have not been made public. The case remains an active and ongoing homicide investigation.

In the aftermath of his death, Frank’s family was left to grapple with their profound and sudden loss. To help with the unexpected financial burden of a funeral and memorial service, a family member named Fernanda Perkins organized a GoFundMe campaign titled the "Frank Jabbar Perkins Jr. Memorial Fund." This fundraising effort served as a testament to the community of family and friends left to mourn a man taken from them far too soon.

As of the latest public updates, no arrests have been announced in the killing of Frank Jabbar Perkins, and authorities have not officially named any suspects or persons of interest. The case remains unsolved, a source of continued pain and unanswered questions for his family and community. Homicide detectives continue to seek information from the public that could lead to a breakthrough. The Tucson Police Department urges anyone with any knowledge of the altercation, the shooting, or the individuals involved to call 88-CRIME. Callers have the option to remain anonymous.