Sahuarita detective enters guilty plea following gun range incident

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The Sahuarita detective involved in the 2025 gun range incident has entered a guilty plea.

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SPD Detective Sergeant Aaron Medina pled guilty to two counts of endangerment on June 1, 2026.

Medina is set to face sentencing on July 2.

The incident happened at the Marana Shooting Club on October 15, 2025, while Sahuarita Police were doing rifle training.

At some point, a stray bullet hit the monkey bars of a nearby park. A woman and a child were at the park when the shooting occurred.

After the incident, Medina was placed on administrative leave. 13 News has reached out to SPD to inquire about his employment.

Previous coverage is below

In a letter released Monday, March 16, the Sahuarita Police Department said “At this time, we understand the Grand Jury determined there was probable cause to possibly bring two counts of Endangerment against SPD Detective Sergeant A. Medina who was one of the instructors during the training. Endangerment depending upon circumstances can be charged as either a felony or misdemeanor. We recognize and respect the grand jury process and those that serve on the Grand Jury.”

The letter states Sahuarita Police is also doing an internal investigation to determine if best practices or policy were violated.

During the investigation, the SPD says Sergeant Medina will be assigned to administrative duties.

The letter states “Sergeant Medina is a highly decorated twenty-year law enforcement veteran and has no prior disciplinary history with the SPD. The SPD is working to complete its administrative investigation. Prior to coming to any final administrative decision, the SPD wants to review its own investigation, the OVPD report, and any available information provided to the Pima County Attorney’s Office and Grand Jury.”

In a statement to 13 News, the Pima County Attorney’s Office said “The Oro Valley Police Department has investigated this incident and presented the Pima County Attorney’s Office with charges, which we put before a Grand Jury. The Grand Jury returned a true bill on two counts of Endangerment with Substantial Risk of Death, a Class 6 Felony. The case is now with our prosecutors, who will determine what legal steps are appropriate. The County Attorney treats all prospective defendants equally, regardless of their occupation, and makes decisions based upon the evidence. At this time, the County Attorney’s Office cannot comment further.”

Marana speaks out

The town of Marana has asked the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to investigate after a stray bullet from a popular shooting range hit playground equipment earlier this month.

In a letter obtained by 13 News, the town is asking for an investigation into the Marana Shooting Club. The club is about half a mile from the park where the stray bullet hit the monkey bars. The Gladden Farms Community Park in Marana is near Tangerine and Gladden Farms.

On the day of the incident, Oct. 15, the shooting range was closed to the public. The Sahuarita Police Department was doing rifle training at the facility when the accident happened.

13 News has reached out to the AG’s Office for comment and will follow up and let you know the results of the investigation. The town asked the AG to investigate because shooting clubs are regulated on the state level, not locally.

A copy of the letter Marana sent is below.

13 News has already reported that there was a similar incident at the shooting range in 2020. Thankfully, there were no injuries in either event.

Marana said it asked the AG’s Office for an investigation at the time, but did not say if anything was done or what came of the investigation.

A copy of the 2020 letter can be read below.

13 News has also already confirmed that the shooting range was built before the park.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

An investigation is ongoing after a stray bullet from a nearby gun range, shot by local law enforcement, hit the monkey bars at the Gladden Farms Community Park in Marana early on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

And as 13 News found out Thursday, it is not the first time it has happened at the location.

The town of Marana confirmed there were no injuries, and no one was at the playground when it happened. The town confirmed the Sahuarita Police Department was doing rifle training when the bullet left the range and that it is investigating.

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The town said a woman and a child were at the park at that time and heard the shot, and the bullet ricocheted off the playground equipment.

On Thursday, 13 News’ Katherine Patterson talked to the woman about what she saw.

Robin Taylor said that when she looks at the playground, she and her grandson see a monster truck arena. When they were rolling those mini trucks down this mound, she would have never guessed what the next few minutes of their lives would look like.

“Literally, I go down and it went zoom,” she said. “And it hit right at that monkey bar right there.”

The passing bullet sent the veteran into action. When the sound of gunfire wouldn’t stop, she ran to take cover near a bench with her 3-year-old grandchild and called 911.

“You’re just in panic,” she said. “You don’t know where it’s coming from! It could have been from the wash, it could have been. You don’t know.”

According to the Town of Marana, this is not the first time a bullet has made its way past the range. Back in 2020, multiple shots struck the baseball field right next to the playground. Just like the incident on Wednesday, no one was hurt.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE

13 News’ Raya Torres spoke to Paul Bartholomeaux, a parent who said his son is at the park frequently. He said the shooting club should make some changes so it doesn’t happen again.

“Looking at the time the range has been there versus the park being here, it makes you a little nervous, but I’m not too worried,” he said. “The range can make some changes just in the direction of the line of fire when they’re doing law enforcement training there.”

Bartholomeaux said if the range is active, his family could always leave and come back later.

“I think if I were here and I heard the range was really active that day, I would probably just say, ‘Oh, we’ll come back later,’” he said. “They don’t tend to run for long hours there.”

Marana Communication Manager Vic Hathaway told 13 News that the range was closed to the public on Wednesday, but law enforcement agencies often reserve it for training.

Marana Police Chief Pridgett said the SPD was doing rifle training in the morning when a round “traveled beyond the range boundaries.”

Pridgett said the SPD is conducting an internal investigation while a separate police investigation “will be conducted to determine why a bullet went outside of the range confinements.”

Pridgett said the office of Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes will be asked to review the safety of the club since it is a state-licensed and “outside of the Town’s purview.”

Pridget released the following statement following Wednesday’s incident.

“We understand that this incident is deeply concerning for our residents and the families who frequent the area, and we take these concerns very seriously. We have contacted Marana Shooting Club, and they have confirmed that they’ve shut down the portion of the gun range impacting Gladden Farms Community Park until safety measures are evaluated.

We remain committed to transparency and accountability, and to our mission to provide unparalleled service, unwavering protection, and to do so with uncompromised integrity.

Thank you for your continued trust as we work together to keep Marana safe.”

At least two residents from the Gladden Farms community reached out to 13 News about the incident and claimed that the playground equipment was hit.

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