Mexican man is suspect in S. Side killing
By Eric Swedlund and Alexis Huicochea
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.14.2008
Detectives have identified an 18-year-old Mexican national as the suspect in the shooting death of a 23-year-old Tucson man who was killed in the parking lot of a South Side apartment complex Tuesday night.
Jesus Antonio Puente was shot multiple times in the north parking lot of Parkview Apartments, 5801 S. 12th Ave., south of West Drexel Road. Several witnesses reported the shooting at 7:35 p.m., and Puente was pronounced dead at the scene 20 minutes later, said Sgt. Mark Robinson, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.
Detectives said Puente and his killer were either acquaintances or had acquaintances in common. On Wednesday, police confirmed the identity of a suspect after sorting through several aliases.
Police are searching for Miguel Fernandez Molina, who they say is armed and dangerous.
Robinson said Puente went to the complex to retrieve some personal items when he got into an argument with Molina. During the argument, Molina shot Puente several times with a handgun and ran from the complex. Robinson did not comment further about a possible motive.
An off-duty Pima County sheriff's deputy who was at Mission Manor Park across the street from the apartments arrived at the shooting scene within about a minute, Robinson said.
Molina is a Mexican citizen with relatives in Nogales and Magdalena, Sonora, and the state of Veracruz, said Robinson, who could not say whether Molina is in the United States legally. Detectives don't know whether he is in the Tucson area or has fled to Mexico or elsewhere, Robinson said.
Molina uses several aliases, including Luis Fernandez Molina, Jose Luis Fernandez and Jose F. Molina.
Anyone with information about Molina or his whereabouts should call 911 or 88-CRIME.
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