2nd Tucson Teen Arrested in Double Killing

16-year-old Kaleb Gonzales charged with murder, robbery in December shooting deaths

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:39pm

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A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and armed robbery in connection with the December killing of two people at a Tucson community park. Kaleb Gonzales is the second person arrested for the fatal shooting of Joshua Mariscal Jr., 20, and a 17-year-old boy, which occurred on December 27.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing issue of youth violence and gun crime in Tucson, which has seen a rise in homicides in recent years. The arrests of two teenage suspects in this double homicide raise concerns about the factors driving such violence among young people in the community.

The details

According to police, Gonzales and 18-year-old Jose Mendez-Torres were involved in the shooting deaths of Mariscal and the 17-year-old victim, who were meeting with "unknown individuals" at the community park. Gonzales has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and armed robbery, and was initially booked into the Pima County Juvenile Detention Center before being transferred to the county jail.

  • The shooting occurred around 8:15 p.m. on December 27, 2025 at a community park in Tucson.
  • Kaleb Gonzales was arrested and charged on January 30, 2026.

The players

Kaleb Gonzales

A 16-year-old boy arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and armed robbery in connection with the December 2025 shooting deaths of two people at a Tucson community park.

Jose Mendez-Torres

An 18-year-old man previously arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, armed robbery, aggravated robbery, trafficking in stolen property, and discharging a firearm within city limits in the same December 2025 shooting incident.

Joshua Mariscal Jr.

A 20-year-old man who was one of two people fatally shot in the December 2025 incident at a Tucson community park.

17-year-old victim

The identity of the second victim, a 17-year-old boy, who was killed in the December 2025 shooting at a Tucson community park has not been publicly released by police.

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What’s next

The judge will decide on Kaleb Gonzales' bail status at a hearing on February 5, 2026.

The takeaway

This double homicide case underscores the urgent need for Tucson community leaders, law enforcement, and youth programs to address the root causes of youth violence and gun crime in order to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future.