Group protests SWAT death of Tucson Marine

AZFamily



TUCSON, Ariz. – The death of a former Marine near Tucson continues to stir controversy.

A group spent this Memorial Day protesting the SWAT raid which led to his death. Investigation documents reveal officers seized guns, banking documents and other items from the home but did not find drugs or cash.

The original search warrants, along with other documents relating to the investigation, remain sealed.

Jose Guerena, 26, had no history of violent crime but was listed as a possible suspect in a complex drug investigation.

On May 5, officers raided four homes around Tucson including Guerena's in connection with the drug case.

When they arrived to serve the search warrant, Guerena reportedly grabbed a gun. He didn't aim it at officers but they opened fire, shooting him 60 times. 

The Pima County Sheriff's Office maintains the officers followed protocol during the raid.

A group called the Oath-keepers, made of former officers and service members, led a protest of the raid Monday.

"The SWAT team never should have been there. It's a problem to put trained individuals against each other. Having officers come face-to-face with a veteran Marine in his home is unnecessary," said Stewart Rhodes, the head of the Oath-keepers group.
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