Alexander Ian Jacobs

Alexander Ian Jacobs, a man remembered by loved ones as funny, outgoing, and having a big heart, was 31 years old when his life was taken in Tucson, Arizona. Known affectionately as "Big Al," he was a hard worker and a "jack of all trades" who had attended Amphitheater High School in his hometown. A Black / African American man, his sudden death on a late summer night was a profound loss to his community and a stark reminder of the gun violence impacting the city. In 2021, Tucson saw a significant increase in homicides, with Alexander's death being one of 61 recorded by early September of that year, a substantial rise from the 37 reported by the same time in 2020.

The final moments of Alexander’s life unfolded in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, September 4, 2021. At approximately 2:00 a.m., officers with the Tucson Police Department were on patrol in midtown, in the 4600 block of East Speedway Boulevard near Swan Road, when they heard the distinct sound of several gunshots. The officers immediately began to search the area and soon discovered Alexander in a nearby parking lot. He had sustained obvious and severe gunshot trauma.

Police rendered aid to Alexander at the scene until paramedics from the Tucson Fire Department arrived. He was quickly transported to St. Joseph's Hospital for emergency medical treatment. Despite the efforts of law enforcement and medical personnel, Alexander’s injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Homicide detectives were dispatched to the parking lot to take over the investigation.

Detectives learned that just prior to the shooting, Alexander had been involved in an altercation in the same parking lot where he was found mortally wounded. The Tucson Police Department began an intensive investigation, conducting interviews and processing forensic evidence from the scene. Their efforts quickly led them to identify a suspect in the fatal shooting.

Within days, the investigation centered on 20-year-old Nivek Isaiah Gastelum. On September 7, 2021, detectives secured a warrant for Gastelum's arrest on a charge of first-degree murder. The following day, on Wednesday, September 8, officers located Gastelum at Rudy Garcia Park, located at 5001 S. Nogales Highway. He was taken into custody and arrested in connection with Alexander's death.

Following his arrest, Nivek Isaiah Gastelum was booked into the Pima County Jail on the first-degree murder charge. A judge set his bond at $1 million. The swift arrest brought the initial phase of the police investigation to a close, transitioning the case to the Pima County justice system for prosecution.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, tributes to Alexander reflected the deep impact he had on those who knew him. On a memorial page, one person wrote, "ill forever feel you around me i love you till i die." The case against his alleged killer moved into the legal system, with Nivek Isaiah Gastelum facing the most serious of charges. As of September 2021, the case was pending in the courts. Authorities asked that anyone with additional information regarding the shooting call 88-CRIME.