Arrest made in shooting that killed 7 year old boy

Tucson Police gang detectives made an arrest late Saturday in the shooting that killed a first grader.

Reporter: Jessica Chapin

Web Producer: Brian Pryor and Tammy Vo

Posted: Apr 09, 2011 12:44 PM EDT

Updated: Apr 11, 2011 2:08 PM EDT

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Tucson Police detectives arrested Alvin Valenzuela, 21, of Sells, late Saturday and are naming him the shooter in the shooting death of a child at an apartment complex near Golf Links & Wilmot.

Officers were called to the shooting scene after 12:40 a.m. Saturday morning. Police found the victim, 7-year-old Johnathan Federico of Tucson inside an apartment.

Paramedics transported the boy to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Officers began searching for the suspect and found two at a residence in the 5900 block of East 29th Street.

Sgt. Matt Ronstadt with the Tucson Police said that one of the men who was detained has gang affiliations and detectives are investigating. Detectives have said that the suspects were in the northwest corner of the school yard across from the complex and were firing several shots.

Police say that Valenzuela began firing shots at the complex. An adult confronted Valenzuela who returned with gunfire. That's when police say, the boy ran outside through an open door and was shot at least once causing him to fall back into the apartment.

Another man who was with Valenzuela was not associated with the shooting and was released on Saturday, say police.

Authorities ask anyone who has information to call 9-1-1 or 88-CRIME.

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