Pima County identifies suspect in TPD recruit killing
Pima County Sheriff’s Department has obtained a first-degree murder warrant for 33-year-old Alex James Barnett, one of three suspects sought in the Aug. 19 home-invasion shooting that killed Tucson Police recruit Carlos Ramirez, 23, and wounded his pregnant fiancée, a current corrections officer who has since been released from the hospital. Officials are still asking the public to help locate Barnett and identify two other men.
Key Takeaways
- A first-degree murder warrant names Alex James Barnett, 33, in the killing of TPD recruit Carlos Ramirez.
- The Aug. 19 shooting in the 7700 block of South Enchanted Spring Drive also injured Ramirez’s fiancée, a Pima County corrections officer.
- Surveillance video places Barnett and another suspect at a Shell station on West Valencia Road minutes before the attack.
- Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME to remain anonymous.
Who was identified in the Pima County investigation?
Late Thursday, Aug. 20, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said it secured a first-degree murder arrest warrant for Alex James Barnett. Detectives identified him as one of three suspects and are seeking help finding him and naming the remaining two.
Court records cited by local reporting describe a lengthy criminal history in Pima County, including convictions over the past decade for offenses such as child abuse, theft, weapons misconduct, burglary, identity theft, and unlawful imprisonment. He was most recently released from prison in late 2025, according to those records.
What happened to Carlos Ramirez and his fiancée?
Shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, deputies responded to a home in the 7700 block of South Enchanted Spring Drive. Ramirez was pronounced dead at the scene. His 23-year-old fiancée was shot, treated for non-life-threatening injuries, and later released from the hospital.
Ramirez was a member of Tucson Police Basic Recruit Class 26-1 and a former Pima County corrections officer. He had completed 23 weeks at the Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Center and was scheduled to graduate Aug. 27, 2026. His fiancée remains a PCSD corrections officer. A GoFundMe shared by a coworker said she is pregnant and that she and her unborn child are expected to be OK.
Tucson Police Chief Monica Prieto called the killing a tremendous loss for the community. Sheriff Chris Nanos said the violence reached across agencies supporting the victims’ families. More coverage of similar cases is collected in our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries hub.
What evidence have investigators released so far?
PCSD released video from two locations. One clip shows Barnett and a second suspect at the Shell station at 5405 West Valencia Road around 5:20–5:30 a.m., minutes before the shooting. Another, taken hours later near South Palo Verde Road and East 33rd Street, shows a third suspect. A vehicle tied to the case was found in that area, about 30 minutes from the crime scene.
Earlier in the manhunt, authorities described masked gunmen and sought a gray Acura MDX believed linked to the attack. The Arizona Department of Public Safety is assisting. Neighbors in the Star Valley area told reporters they heard heavy emergency response around 6 a.m. and have shared tips and security footage.
How can the public help catch the suspects?
Barnett and the other suspects remain at large. Tipsters can call 911 or 88-CRIME to stay anonymous. Officials continue to plead for information that could end the search and bring accountability for Ramirez’s death.