TUCSON, Ariz. - Tucson police investigated a homicide in midtown Wednesday.
Police say the call came in at 3:45 a.m. A woman called 911 and said she heard noises coming from her backyard, in the 4700 block of East Duncan Street, near Grant and Swan.
She found two men trying to break in and confronted them. She shot both of them. Police say 18-year-old Corey Teixeira died at the scene. 18-year-old Ali Mohamed died later at the hospital.
Tucson Police also say they have conducted a search warrant. From their findings so far, they say the two suspects appeared to be targeting the woman's house, specifically for narcotics-related reasons.
Police tell Nine On Your Side they don't determine if it was self-defense, that is up to the Pima County Attorney's Office.
Arizona is one of more than 20 states with the 'Stand Your Ground' law which gives individuals the right to use deadly force to defend themselves without any requirement to evade or retreat from a dangerous situation.
"If you are in your house and if somebody is breaking into your house, or has already entered your house unlawfully, then you are authorized to use deadly physical force," said Louis Fidel, a criminal defense attorney at Piccarreta Davis Keenan Fidel.
Arizona has three statutes: defense of a residential structure; the castle doctrine, which expands the rule to include your car; and pure self defense, using deadly force in any place you have the right to be in - as long as it is legally permitted.
"The self defense statute applies anywhere. Anywhere where you have a legal right to be," said Fidel.
Fidel says the prosecutor will look at the totality of the facts; everything anyone involved in the investigation learned at that time.
"To not charge the woman they would have to reach a determination that they believe that she acted reasonably," said Fidel.
Again, Tucson Police say they will continue to investigate and turn over all findings to the Pima County Attorney's Office who will then determine whether there are charges. That decision may take several weeks.
