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Suspect killed in officer involved shooting, kidnapping case identified

Posted at 9:58 AM, Jan 28, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-31 17:14:03-05

Multiple agencies responded to an officer-involved shooting on Tucson's south west side Tuesday morning.

Officials say the incident happened in the Tucson Estates and Ajo Highway area.

Police say they were investigating a kidnapping that was reported at about 5:00 a.m. Tuesday morning in the 6500 block of S. I-19 Frontage Road.

According to PCSD, the victim told police that he was kidnapped from a home within city limits, forced into his vehicle and was driven around the city. The victim then said he was eventually released west of the city in Pima County, which led to deputies being able to locate him.

After further investigation, detectives found the victim's vehicle and followed it to a nearby gas station located at 6225 W. Ajo Way around 9:20 a.m.

The suspect, 39-year-old Robert Cocio, barricaded himself in the vehicle while officers attempted to communicate with him, PCSD said.

According to PCSD, during negotiations, officers noticed that Cocio has a gun, which he refused to put down. PCSD says at one point he aimed the gun at officers.

"Officers and Deputies were then involved in a shooting. The Deputies that fired their weapons during this incident include 19-year Deputy Gilbert Caudillo, 14-year Deputy David Hughes, 11-year Deputy Geoffrey Barber, and 8-year Deputy Alex Jansen. Tucson Police Department officer Jose Flores (27-year veteran) and a Marana police department Sgt. Abel Samano (13-year officer) also fired their weapons," PCSD said.

Following the shots, lifesaving methods for Cocio were immediately attempted, but he was pronounced deceased on-scene.

No officers were injured and the victim was also not injured.

This investigation is ongoing. If you have any information, call 9-1-1.