University of Arizona

University of Arizona Student Death Prompts Focus on Campus Security

On Saturday, Feb. 20, a University of Arizona student was shot and killed in an on-campus parking garage. The Tucson Police Department is currently investigating the death as a homicide. As students returned to campus on Monday, their attention turned to how campus security and safety measures could prevent another similar incident.

A petition to add security cameras to every floor of the parking garage in question, instead of just at the entrance, had gathered more than 8,000 signatures as of Monday. The creator of the petition has since closed it down, but the topic remains on students’ minds.

“You can tell everyone feels a little uneasy today,” said University of Arizona senior Tara Garcia. “It shocked me that something so awful could happen. A lot of people are kind of feeling shook and wanting some change. I know there’s a petition going around saying that people want security cameras in the garage, so people do want action and want to see some change.”

When asked for comment, the university told KOLD News, “While we believe this is an isolated incident, UAPD has increased visible patrols on campus as a precautionary measure. We have cameras across campus, some of which are more prominent and conspicuous, and others less so. For security reasons, we don’t reveal the locations of these cameras. Moreover, we are consistently evaluating our security protocols involving the use of cameras, while being sensitive to the privacy concerns of our campus community.”

A state-run COVID-19 vaccine pod stands just “a few steps away” from where the death occurred. According to UA Chief of Police Brian Seastone, “We have officers who are working that—the pod—and have been since day one. We’ll also have increased patrols on campus and in that area.”

In addition to the increased patrols, Seastone offered a message of support to the university community: “We want to reassure folks that campus security and safety is our number-one priority,” he said.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning and Campus Security and Life Safety. He can be reached at [email protected]

Featured

  • A.C. Camargo Cancer Center Enhances Security, Patient Care with Help from Advanced Video Surveillance

    A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, a leading oncology treatment center in São Paulo, Brazil recognized for its history of innovation, today announced that its partnership with Axis Communications has produced savings of more than $2 million over its first two years, all of which will be reinvested in patient care. A.C. Camargo has deployed more than 2,000 state-of-the-art video surveillance cameras throughout the Center’s corridors, complex care units, and parking lots, embracing a more holistic approach to security that emphasizes patient and employee safety along with improved quality of service. Read Now

  • 2025 Secure Campus Award Winners Announced

    Campus Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 Secure Campus Award winners. Twenty companies are being recognized this year for products that help keep education and business campuses safe. Read Now

  • K-12 School Safety Trends Report Shows Training, Technology Are Saving Lives

    CENTEGIX, the industry leader and most widely adopted wearable safety technology provider for K-12 education, today released its 2025 School Safety Trends Report, the only comprehensive and data-rich analysis of school safety available in the wearable panic button market. The report identifies and outlines the top tech and legislative movements relevant to school safety in the U.S. and draws on data collected in the 2024/2025 school year through the CENTEGIX Safety Platform, including more than 265,000 incidents of CrisisAlert use. Read Now

  • Survey: Fewer Than 20 Percent of School Leaders Consider Their Main Entrance “Completely Secure”

    Singlewire Software, provider of solutions that help keep people safe and informed, releases the findings of its inaugural School Entrance Security Report, which captured responses from more than 500 school staff members across the United States. This research highlights the concerns and challenges schools are facing in securing their entrances and keeping students and staff safe from potential threats Read Now