'Beyond Frustrating': Tucson Chief On Accused Shooter's Release

Tucson AZ

25 August, 2021

6:03 PM

Description

TUCSON, AZ — Police Chief Chris Magnus took to Twitter Wednesday to express frustration about a man's release from jail without bond, after police say the man exchanged gunfire with a police sergeant last week. Zachary Oscar Lee, 26, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with an incident Friday afternoon that left him with gunshot wounds. In a Wednesday morning Tweet, Magnus described it as "beyond frustrating" that a Tucson City Court judge released Lee with no bond. Zachery Lee shot at a TPD sergeant on E. 29th St. last Fri. afternoon. Lee was arrested & charged w/Agg Assault w/deadly weapon. Yet, get this: The Tucson City Court judge released Lee on pretrial release w/NO bond over the prosecutor's request. Feel safe? Beyond frustrating. pic.twitter.com/OPMpNRlFVo— Chris Magnus (@ChiefCMagnus) August 25, 2021 The incident began around 2:30 p.m. Friday, near 4800 E. 29th Street, when Lee walked past a police sergeant in an unmarked car and the two spoke briefly, according to a news release. Police say that Lee then pulled out a semi-automatic gun and he and the sergeant shot at one another. Police did not clarify who took the first shot. Lee ran to a nearby apartment complex where police found him and discovered that he had been shot. Lee was taken to a local hospital for treatment, police said. He was booked into the Pima County Jail following his release. The Tucson Police Violent Crimes Unit as well as the department's Office of Professional Standards are both investigating the officer-involved shooting, police said. The sergeant involved in the shooting is a nine-year veteran of the department.