SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. — A 17-year-old Combs High School Student was killed in a shooting in a San Tan Valley neighborhood Tuesday evening after a verbal altercation, according to officials with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office.
Officials were called to a neighborhood near Gantzel and Ocotillo Roads just after 5 p.m. for reports of a shooting. Deputies found Jamiere Jenkins, 17, with a gunshot wound when they arrived at the scene.
Jenkins was taken to a local hospital but later died of his injuries.
Friends tell 12News Jamiere Jenkins was goofy and liked to have fun. He was also a leader to his teammates. They said he was a true and loyal friend.
"Words cannot express our sadness and shock as we learn of the tragic death of another Combs High School student. This comes at a particularly devastating time, taking place in the wake of another recent tragedy from which our community is still reeling," a spokeswoman with the school said.
"The impact of these events is not only felt deeply by our Combs High School campus, but by countless students, staff, and families districtwide whose lives have been touched by these senseless acts of violence."
The school also created an online resource page for parents, students, and family members in need of support during this time.
Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb said the shooting happened after a verbal fight between Jenkins and another teen that lasted several minutes.
PCSO said after interviewing witnesses, detectives were very early on able to identify a possible suspect. Deputies began to look for the suspect in the neighborhood.
Later, deputies saw a black sedan leaving one of the homes and stopped it. The passenger of the vehicle was positively identified as the suspect. Deputies took the suspect into custody.
The shooting is still under investigation.
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