UArizona Mourns Student Killed In Campus Shooting

TUCSON, AZ — A University of Arizona student was killed in a shooting in a campus parking garage late Saturday, according to officials.

U of A President Robert C. Robbins announced the news in a letter to the campus community. He said the shooting took place around 11 p.m. on Saturday at the Cherry Avenue Garage near McKale Center.

University of Arizona police officers found a student with gunshot wounds after responding to reports of a shooting. The student died at the scene. Robbins said the student's family has been notified.

“The Tucson Police Department and UAPD are jointly investigating this as a homicide," he said. "It is important that we allow them to continue to investigate and arrest those responsible. There is no indication that the campus community is in danger at this time."

According to the university police department's official Twitter, officers are searching for a red or maroon Cadillac sedan last seen going north on Cherry not long after the shooting.

Patch has reached out to the Tucson Police Department for additional information.

The university confirmed the death Monday in a tweet and identified him as sophomore Forrest Keys, 20. According to the school, Keys majored in communication and was a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity.

In a Monday afternoon news release, the Tucson Police Department said detectives had learned that Keys was walking home when the maroon car passed him. The department said an argument ensued for unknown reasons and shots were fired soon after.

There are currently no suspects in custody.

Anyone with information about the shooting has been asked to call 88-CRIME, an anonymous tip line.

In a Monday news briefing, Robbins said he hopes justice is served for Keys as the community begins to mourn his loss.

"My hope is that as the family begins to process this, that we will be able to have some campus vigil to celebrate Forrest's life," he said.

Robbins university staff and students to seek out support if they need it. Support for students is available through Counseling and Psych Services and the Dean of Students Office. Employee assistance counseling is available through Life & Work Connections.

University of Arizona Chief of Police Brian Seastone said during the virtual briefing that campus police patrols will be increased following the deadly shooting, especially in the area around the vaccination site on the campus mall which recently extended its hours of operation to 10 p.m.

"We are indeed a family here at the U of A, and one of our family members has been tragically taken from us," Seastone said. "I want to reassure folks that campus safety and security is our No. 1 priority at the campus and has been for many, many years."

This is a developing story. Please check back with Patch later for more details.