An off-campus party for students of the University of Arizona devolved into a shooting spree that ended with the death of one unfortunate student, Erin Jones.
20-year-old Jones, from Newport Beach, had gone out for fun and partying and never imagined her life would be ending on the night of Sunday, April 28th.
Alas, fate has a cruel way of destroying man’s best laid plans!
A shooting spree exploded at the venue for the party in the 3200 block of E. 5th Street in Tucson that led to only one fatality – Erin Jones.
Jones was standing outside the event, waiting for a Uber home, when she was shot, according to her friends.
She was taken to a hospital alongside three other people who sustained injuries from the shootout but she was the only one who died that night as the three other victims survived with non-life threatening injuries.
Her death left two communities stunned, her University of Arizona family as well as all those she had left behind in Newport Beach to Arizona to further her education.
In the days following her death, tributes poured in for Erin Jones, showing the depth of character she had and the impact she made on so many people who came into contact with her.
All About Erin Jones
Originally from Newport Beach, California, Erin Jones graduated from the Corona Del Mar High School in 2022.
An active participant in extra-curricular activities, Erin was particularly avid at soccer and left a lasting legacy in the sport behind at Corona Del Mar.
The Principal for Corona Del Mar High School, said in a statement that Jones would be heavily missed.
According to him, she was incredibly well known on campus and was a larger than life presence in all she did.
He said the “ripple effect of the loss will be felt by many, especially our soccer community,”, adding that he was at a “loss for words,”
Jones’ former soccer coach Bryan Middleton also spoke out, revealing that her passion for soccer was only trumped by her passion for being the best teammate she could ever be for her colleagues.
Back in Arizona, Jones was not missed any less.
A statement from the UOFA President, Robert Robbins said that Jones’ memory will always be honoured by the University.
Robbins also extended condolences to those back in Newport Beach who were reeling the hardest from the loss.
The Homicide
Weeks after her death, police have said they still have not developed any suspect in the shooting death of Erin Jones, beyond saying she was not targeted.
There were 200 people at the party and police interviewed over 25 witnesses but are still nowhere close to solving the crime.
The family of Erin Jones in Arizona and California remain in limbo as the investigation drags on and continue to wait for a breakthrough to enable them to find out – what exactly happened on that fateful night to cause them so much pain?