A Tucson man who shot and killed a Deputy U.S. Marshal in 2018 has been convicted of second-degree murder of a federal officer, punishable by up to life in prison.
31-year-old Ryan Schlesinger opened fire on deputies on November 29, 2018 when a team of U.S. Marshals attempted to serve him a felony arrest warrant for allegedly stalking a Tucson Police sergeant. He shot Deputy Marshal Chase White twice in the upper torso.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Arizona says that Schlesinger had been in a yearlong dispute with TPD and sent multiple threatening emails, went to an officer’s parents’ home, and tried to arrest a TPD sergeant. He sent a threatening email to TPD hours before the shooting. After an hour-long standoff, he surrendered, wearing body armor and a ballistic helmet.
White was 41 years old and is survived by his wife and four children. He was the first Deputy U.S. Marshal killed in the line of duty in Tucson in 66 years.
A federal jury also convicted Schlesinger of other felonies, including multiple counts of attempted murder of a federal officer. His sentencing is set for January 22.
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