Pima County sheriff’s deputies fatally shot 23-year-old Devon Lewis Saturday night outside a Days Inn hotel in Tucson after responding to reports of a man yelling and waving a sword. According to officials, Lewis drew a katana and advanced toward deputies, prompting one to fire a department-issued handgun.
Authorities said the shooting occurred shortly after 10 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2024, outside a Days Inn hotel in the 4800 block of South Palo Verde Road in Tucson. According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a man yelling and waving a sword outside a hotel room. The man was later identified as 23-year-old Devon Lewis.
Deputy Ramon Morales, who has been with the department for approximately one year, fired his department-issued handgun as Lewis moved toward the deputies, striking Lewis.
Upon arrival, deputies attempted to communicate with Lewis, who then drew a Japanese sword, commonly described as a katana, from its sheath. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department reported that Lewis advanced toward the deputies after unsheathing the weapon. No deputies or other members of the public were injured during the incident, officials said.
Deputies immediately began administering life-saving measures, and Rural Metro Fire Department personnel arrived to continue or assist with medical treatment. Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Pima Regional Critical Incident Team.
Video footage released by the Pima Regional Critical Incident Team showed a standoff between Deputy Morales and Lewis. The video depicted Lewis unsheathing the sword and advancing toward Morales, who then fired his handgun. Lewis fell to the ground following the gunfire. Officials said the footage supported the reported sequence of events but did not, by itself, establish final legal conclusions regarding the shooting.
The Pima Regional Critical Incident Team was activated to conduct a criminal investigation into the deputy-involved shooting. The Tucson Police Department was identified as the lead agency overseeing the investigation. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department announced it would conduct a separate administrative review to determine whether department policies were followed or violated. This internal review includes examination of video footage and other evidence related to the incident.
Lewis’s name and age were confirmed by official sources. Deputy Morales was identified as the officer who fired the fatal shot and was not injured during the incident. No other individuals were reported to have sustained injuries.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and Tucson Police Department have not released further details regarding any potential charges or the outcome of the investigations. Public reporting on the incident began on Feb. 25, following the shooting on Feb. 24.
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