The U.S. Marshal who lost his life in the line of duty in Tucson Thursday evening was a married father of four children from Peoria, Illinois. He’s been identified as Deputy U.S. Marshal Chase White, 41.
U.S. Marshal David Gonzales says Deputy White was a 3-year veteran of the U.S. Marshals Service assigned to the District of Arizona. He was part of a fugitive task force.
White was serving an arrest warrant for 26-year-old Ryan Schlesinger, wanted for stalking a Tucson police sergeant, when the suspect allegedly opened fire on deputies and struck White multiple times.
“It’s just sad that one individual’s ignorance not only messed up my family, and hurt my family, it hurt law enforcement all over. But they also hurt their own family, and it’s just unfortunate that we have to go through with it,” said Kendell Johnson, White’s cousin.
Gonzales says White was also a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve. He was preparing to deploy for up to three years.
“Just absolutely shattering and shocking to all of us,” said Gonzales.
White’s family is in disbelief but remembering him as an honorable man who would do anything for his family.
“He was the youngest of all my grandmother’s grandchildren. There’s only nine of us, and he was the one that everyone looked at as the golden child. He just had like overall a good heart, like he was born with it,” said Johnson.
“A very hands-on father, a person that would just be there for you,” said White’s aunt, Gyneva Newbern.
White is the first federal marshal to be killed in the line of duty in Tucson in 66 years.