An investigation into the deadly shooting of University of Arizona sophomore Forrest Keys in late February found that the suspects had allegedly thrown a pizza box at other pedestrians on campus and taunted Keys and his friends before they shot him.

Alonzo Orosco, Ruben Young and Roberto Joaquin Camargo, all 17, were arrested last week and accused of first-degree murder and drive-by shooting in connection with Keys’ death on Feb. 20.

According to court documents, the three boys were apprehended after police matched them to witnesses’ descriptions and surveillance footage of the occupants of the red Cadillac involved in the drive-by.

Detectives believe Orosco was the car’s driver, Young was the shooter and Camargo’s “actions contributed to the shooting,” Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus said.

Police were also able to reconstruct a timeline of the night of the shooting.

Police report describes night of Feb. 20 based on surveillance, witnesses

While reviewing surveillance footage from the night of Feb. 20, police identified that the same red 2008 Cadillac DTS captured on camera during the shooting was on campus at least 15 minutes prior to the shooting, according to probable cause documents submitted by Tucson police to the courts.

Witnesses reported to police that the occupants of the car confronted two women and threw a pizza box at them before driving off, documents stated.

Footage from shortly after shows the Cadillac pass by a group of three men, whom police identified as Keys and his roommates, around 11 p.m. Documents said that Keys’ roommates told police they were returning from a small gathering and were cutting across campus on Cherry Avenue near the University of Arizona stadium when the car drove past with its windows down. The five people inside the car made taunting noises at them, the roommates said.

Keys yelled back at the car, officers learned. Surveillance footage shows the driver, who police identified as Orosco, then turn the car around and stop in front of Keys.

The roommates continued that Keys approached the car’s passenger side window, and an argument ensued. He then punched the passenger, identified as Young, who drew a pistol and shot multiple times, they told police. Video reviewed by police reportedly confirms this description of the events.

“There were no indications that the victim or any of his roommates were armed at the time of the confrontation and they were outnumbered by the occupants of the vehicle,” court documents said.

All three roommates, including Keys, began to run away. Keys made it about 30 yards before he collapsed. The other two took cover and called 911 as the Cadillac fled the scene.

Because Young allegedly shot Keys through the open window of a car while it was stopped in a roadway, police are considering the incident a drive-by shooting.

An autopsy confirmed Keys, 20, died from gunshot injuries, court records said.

Suspect tells police he “blacked out” during shooting

A patch of primer paint indicating a recent repair on the passenger side of the Cadillac and an anonymous tip detailing the car’s full license plate number were the investigators’ first clues in tracking down the suspects of the shooting.

Research into the license plate showed that Orosco was the son of the car’s registered owner, according to police records. A review of past photographs taken by law enforcement license plate readers confirmed that Orosco had been the driver of the vehicle on multiple occasions in the past. Police also learned that Orosco’s mother had reported a hit and run last October, with the damage consistent with the repaired area of the car captured on surveillance.

The information led police to apprehend Orosco five days after the shooting on Feb. 25. According to court documents, the 17-year-old admitted to being the driver during the incident and claimed the shooting was in “self-defense,” but did not elaborate on why.

Further investigation led police to then arrest Camargo and Young the following day.

Once Orosco was in custody, officers confiscated his phone as evidence and found that he had searched an address the day following the shooting. This address was identified as Camargo’s home. Investigators contacted Camargo, who they said told them he was a passenger in Orosco’s car and had accidentally left his wallet in the back seat, so Orosco came by his house later on to drop it off.

Camargo also detailed the night of the shooting to police, including their altercation with the women whom they threw a pizza box at and the confrontation with Keys.

“Camargo then said that he heard at least (one) gunshot but stated that he closed his eyes and or blacked out and refused to identify the shooter,” police said.

Using Orosco’s phone, police also pinged Orosco’s GPS location about an hour after the shooting near another residence. Police later identified the residence as the home of Young and his family. Based on witness reports and physical descriptions, they alleged Young was the front passenger and shooter.

All three have been charged with first-degree murder and drive-by shooting. 

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or on Twitter @vv1lder.n

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