Police say investigators are examining whether the shooting stemmed from a domestic violence incident at an apartment complex.
SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. — A 43-year-old woman and a dog were found dead Wednesday inside a Sierra Vista apartment after a shooting that also left a man wounded, prompting a homicide investigation in a neighborhood near downtown, police said.
Officers with the Sierra Vista Police Department responded to the apartment complex in the 300 block of Seventh Street on May 20 after reports of gunfire. Investigators identified the woman as Calisha Schafer of Sierra Vista. A man suffering from a gunshot wound to his hand was found on the steps outside the building and taken to a hospital for treatment. Authorities said there was no ongoing threat to the public, though detectives continued collecting evidence throughout the day as neighbors tried to understand what happened.
Police arrived at the apartment complex late Wednesday afternoon and secured the scene as investigators moved through the building and surrounding parking area. Sgt. Jene Seage of the Sierra Vista Police Department said early evidence suggested the shooting may have been tied to a domestic violence incident, though investigators had not publicly confirmed the exact relationship between the people involved. “Odds are likely that it was a domestic incident,” Seage said as detectives continued interviewing witnesses and processing the apartment. Authorities said numerous weapons and drug paraphernalia were recovered inside the residence. Officers spent several hours photographing evidence and speaking with residents who reported hearing loud arguing before gunshots rang out through the complex. Neighbor Ric Essman said police assured nearby residents there was no active danger after officers secured the scene, but he said the incident still left many people shaken. “You get somebody outside with a weapon, it’s something to worry about,” Essman said.
Investigators have not released details about how many shots were fired or whether the wounded man could face charges. Police also have not said whether anyone else was inside the apartment at the time of the shooting. Authorities confirmed the man suffered a gunshot wound to his hand and survived, but they did not provide his identity or condition Wednesday night. Detectives remained at the apartment complex into the evening as crime scene tape blocked access to stairwells and nearby units. Residents gathered outside while officers carried evidence bags from the apartment. Some neighbors said they were familiar with frequent police activity in the area, while others described the violence as unusual for the neighborhood. Officers also recovered the body of a dog from inside the apartment. Investigators did not explain how the animal died or whether it had been shot. The Cochise County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to determine Schafer’s cause of death following an autopsy.
Public records show Schafer had previous arrests and criminal cases in Cochise County tied to drugs and impaired driving. In 2019, sheriff’s deputies arrested Schafer and two other people after methamphetamine was reportedly discovered inside a Sierra Vista hotel room. Court records indicated she was already facing a probation violation at the time. More recently, Schafer was arrested in April after a wrong-way crash near Avenida Cochise and Buffalo Soldier Trail. Authorities alleged she drove in the wrong direction before colliding with another vehicle, rolling multiple times and crashing into an electrical box. Investigators said debris from the wreck damaged several vehicles parked nearby. Police reports from that incident alleged Schafer attempted to flee on foot and tried to enter another person’s vehicle before officers arrested her. She faced multiple charges connected to that crash, including aggravated DUI, aggravated assault, endangerment, resisting arrest and burglary-related allegations. Investigators in Wednesday’s shooting have not publicly connected those earlier incidents to the current case.
The deadly shooting added to a series of violent incidents reported across southern Arizona in recent days. Authorities in Cochise County arrested a man on attempted murder charges following a separate incident on Carmichael Avenue earlier in the week. On Tuesday, law enforcement officers also responded to a shelter-in-place situation near Hereford that ended with two arrests. Across the Tucson region, investigators have separately examined multiple shootings involving two victims within less than a week. Law enforcement agencies said one Green Valley shooting appeared accidental, while another Tucson shooting near East 22nd Street and South Harrison Road remained under investigation. Sierra Vista police said detectives are now reviewing witness statements, forensic evidence and evidence recovered inside the apartment as they work to establish a timeline leading up to Wednesday’s violence. Investigators have not announced whether prosecutors could file homicide or weapons-related charges against the surviving man or anyone else connected to the case.
Residents at the apartment complex said the scene remained tense long after emergency vehicles left the area. Some neighbors stood outside watching investigators move between units while others avoided returning home until police cleared the building. Several residents said they were disturbed by reports that a dog also died inside the apartment. Others expressed concern about violence linked to domestic disputes and firearms. Police officers reassured tenants that there was no continuing danger once the scene had been secured. By late Wednesday, patrol vehicles had mostly cleared the property, though detectives continued documenting evidence and speaking with witnesses. Authorities urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact investigators as the department works to determine exactly what happened inside the apartment before officers arrived.
The Sierra Vista Police Department said the investigation remains active and additional details could be released after detectives complete interviews and forensic analysis. The Cochise County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to release final findings on Schafer’s death in the coming days.