WATCH: Tucson Cop Stops Accused Mass Shooter in Seconds Outside Pizza Shop
Newly released footage shows the tense moment a Tucson police officer stopped an accused mass shooter just seconds after gunfire erupted outside a downtown pizza shop.
The shooting happened around 2 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, near Congress Street and Sixth Avenue, outside Empire Pizza. According to police, the violence started after a confrontation between two groups who knew each other.
Investigators say 21-year-old David French opened fire into a crowd, injuring nine people. Most of the victims have since been released from the hospital, according to local reports.
The video, captured by a camera at Empire Pizza & Pub, shows the chaos unfolding fast. A man identified by authorities as French appears on the sidewalk and fires multiple shots. He then moves behind a white car, circles around it, and runs back toward the sidewalk.
That is when the officer acts.
As French appears to flee, a Tucson police officer fires, striking him and stopping him almost immediately. French collapses to the ground as other officers rush in and take control of the scene. The entire sequence happens in a matter of seconds.
WATCH:
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French was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, but he survived, according to KVOA. Police later announced that he is facing several serious charges tied to the shooting.
Those charges include nine counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, nine counts of aggravated assault with serious physical injury, and one count of discharging a firearm at a structure. The Tucson Police Department has also said more charges are pending as the investigation moves forward.
The case has drawn even more attention because of French’s criminal history. Court records show he had a prior 2024 conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was reportedly on probation at the time of the Tucson shooting.
That detail is hard to ignore. A man already convicted in a deadly weapon case was back on the street, and police say he opened fire into a crowd. Nine people were hurt before an officer in the area was able to stop him.
French is now being held without bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3.
The video is a clear reminder of how quickly a crowded night out can turn into a life-or-death scene. It also shows how fast police had to respond. In this case, one officer’s quick action may have prevented even more people from being shot.