TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — A young man’s life ended in UA’s Cherry Avenue garage late Saturday night.
The University identified the man shot to death as Forrest Keys, a 20-year-old sophomore, majoring in communications. Police say the suspects drove off in a red Cadillac sedan.
UA Police Chief Brian Seastone says, “Mister Keys was walking with some friends in that area. There was a verbal altercation that occurred between him and the individuals in Cadillac, and the rest of it, we're still trying to figure out.”
Forrest Keys was from Lower Moreland, Pennsylvania an area just north of Philadelphia. He graduated in 2019 from Lower Moreland High School.
He played High School football there. Friends remember him as an inspirational, natural leader.
The school and its football team expressed its sorrow for Keys' death in social media posts.
Forrest Keys was a new member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. His fraternity brothers posted a tribute that offered condolences to the young man’s family and went on to say, “His kind heart and love lit up any room he walked into. Rest in Peace brother. We will miss you.”
The University is offering counseling to help students cope with their loss.
Dean of Students, Dr. Kendall Washington White says, “This young man was quite extraordinary. And I can't imagine what his family is feeling. I know that our students on campus, who knew him are distressed, and we are making sure that we are providing support for our community.”
University officials say this incident does not suggest any broader issue about safety on campus and they say there was already additional security around the busy COVID vaccination site.
The University of Arizona released this statement:
"My hope is that justice will be swift (and) we will find the perpetrators that took this beautiful, young, promising life away from our (University of Arizona) family (and) most importantly, his family, his friends," President Robert C. Robbins said Monday during the university's virtual weekly briefing.
"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 added.
University of Arizona Chief of Police Brian Seastone joined Monday's briefing to address the shooting, which took place at the Cherry Avenue Garage Saturday night.
"We have an excellent team of detectives here at the U of A, but in these types of incidents we utilize all of our resources, and Tucson Police has been just amazing in their support and response to us, following up on every lead possible," Seastone said. "We encourage people that have any information to please call 88-CRIME and report that either to 88-CRIME or the Tucson Police Department or to the UAPD. We'll work tirelessly to help identify those responsible for this tragedy."
The university is in touch with the Keys family, Robbins said.
"As you can imagine, they are absolutely devastated at the loss of this incredibly beautiful young man who had an incredibly bright future ahead of him," Robbins said. "I would ask that we all band together, all support each other, and if there's anything that anyone knows about this absolutely senseless loss of life of one of our (University of Arizona) family members, please let Chief Seastone and the Tucson Police Department know about it."
