Arrest Made in Aggravated Assault

Arrest Made in Aggravated Assault

Tucson, Arizona – The University of Arizona Police Department arrested Cole Skyler Smith, 25, on Monday on charges of aggravated assault and unlawful discharge of firearms.

Smith, employed by a contractor of the university, was booked into Pima County Jail for his role in an early morning incident on Saturday. 

UAPD received information from the Tucson Police Department about possible shots fired at a vehicle at Sixth Street and Tyndall Avenue. UAPD officers learned that the incident had occurred outside Arbol de la Vida Residence Hall at 515 N Tyndall Ave. 

UAPD officers learned that an unidentified driver had stopped his vehicle with multiple occupants next to the victim's vehicle. The driver confronted the victim without provocation. When the victim drove away, they heard a loud pop and the windows of the vehicle shattered. The victim believed the loud pop was a gunshot. 

UAPD investigators reviewed footage from nearby surveillance cameras, gaining knowledge of the suspect vehicle description, license plate and registered owner. Detectives also recovered a shell casing found in the road. A bulletin went out to regional law enforcement agencies. 

On Monday, at approximately 7:30 p.m., UAPD located the vehicle and conducted a high-risk traffic stop near East University Boulevard and Park Avenue. Smith was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. He was taken into custody without incident and was subsequently interviewed and arrested. A search warrant was granted for Smith’s residence, where officers located the suspected firearm and ammunition.

During the crime on Saturday, a female University of Arizona student sustained small cuts to her left hand from shattered glass. The male victim driver of the vehicle, also a University of Arizona student, was not injured, and no others were injured during the incident.

UAPD would like to highlight the speed, professionalism and dedication of the investigations unit and field operations officers who worked on the case leading to Smith’s arrest. We also thank the Tucson Police Department for their initial work on the case and for advising UAPD of the incident.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call The University of Arizona Police Department non-emergency line (520) 621-8273, or 88-Crime or (520) 882-7463.

UAPD Case Number: U24041500011 TPD Case Number: P2404130031

Chief Olson
Chief of Police
Date: April 17, 2024

Sgt. Andrew Valenzuela
Public Information Officer
520-626-8007
UAPDMediaRequests@arizona.edu