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John M.
CRUZ
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics: To
avoid arrest
Number of victims: 1
Date of murder:
May 26,
2003
Date of arrest:
Same day
Date of birth:
February 13,
1970
Victim profile: Patrick Kent
Hardesty, 40 (police officer)
Method of murder:
Shooting
Location: Pima County, Arizona, USA
Status: Sentenced to death on May 10, 2005
INMATE 194940
CRUZ JOHN, M
On May 26, 2003, Cruz murdered Officer Patrick
Hardesty, an on-duty law enforcement officer with the Tucson Police
Department.
Officer Hardesty had responded to a traffic collision
in which Cruz’s vehicle struck another vehicle. Cruz fled the scene and
Officer Hardesty and other officers located him inside a nearby
apartment.
Cruz told the Officers that his name was Frank White
and led the Officers to a vehicle parked outside the apartment complex
to get identification.
Instead of producing his identification, Cruz escaped,
sneaking through a hole in a fence right next to the apartments. Officer
Hardesty began chasing Cruz on foot while another officer ran back to
his police car and drove in the direction that Officer Hardesty was
chasing Cruz.
Cruz shot and killed Officer Hardesty before the
other officers arrived. Cruz fired four shots, including shots to the
head and adbomen, from point-blank range.
PROCEEDINGS
Presiding
Judge: Hon. Ted B. Borek
Prosecutor: Rick
Unklesbay & Thomas Weaver, Jr.
Defense Counsel: Brick
Storts & David Basham
Start of Trial: January
19, 2005
Verdict: February 25,
2005
Sentencing: March 10,
2005
Aggravating Circumstances
Murder of a peace officer
in the line of duty
PUBLISHED OPINIONS
[Direct Appeal pending
before the Arizona Supreme Court]
Officer Patrick Kent
Hardesty
Tucson Police Department Arizona
End of Watch: Monday, May 26, 2003
Biographical Info Age: 40 Tour of Duty: 13 years Badge Number: 31432
Incident Details Cause of Death: Gunfire Date of Incident: Monday, May 26, 2003 Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type Suspect Info: Sentenced to Death
Officer Hardesty was shot and killed while
investigating a hit-and-run traffic accident in a midtown neighborhood.
Shortly after arriving at the scene, Officer Hardesty
located a suspect and a struggle ensued in which Officer Hardesty was
shot five times and fatally wounded. Officer Hardesty was taken by
ambulance to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Responding
officers apprehended the suspect after a short foot pursuit. The suspect
was found guilty of first degree murder on February 25th, 2005, and was
sentenced to death on March 10th, 2005.
Officer Hardesty was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He
had been with the Tucson Police Department as a reserve officer for 11
years, and as a full-time officer for 19 months. He is survived by his
wife, three children, parents, two sisters, and a brother.
