Tucson grandmother who beat cancer twice killed in alleged attack by felon at apartment

A Tucson grandma who doubly survived crab died aft she was allegedly attacked by a felon extracurricular her flat complex, authorities said.

The Tucson Police Department confirmed that 61-year-old Susan Gehrke died 4 days aft a July 24 onslaught astatine an flat complex.

Dahseir Edward Jefferson, 27, was arrested 4 days aft the onslaught and initially booked connected 2 counts of aggravated assault. Police aboriginal amended the charges to see second-degree execution pursuing Gehrke’s death. He is being held connected a $650,000 bond.

VETERAN OWNER OF ICONIC 'TRUMP HOUSE' DIES AFTER VICIOUS ALLEGED BEATING BY STRANGER

61-year-old Susan Gehrke died from her injuries pursuing a July 24, 2026 attack. (GoFundMe)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE U.S. NEWS

The precocious grandmother’s household told KOLD the injuries near her "unrecognizable."

"She’s an aged woman that virtually worked her full beingness to enactment her family, and that’s the astir memorable happening that anybody could do," Gehrke’s grandson, Frankie Zills, told the outlet.

Tucson constabulary officers and firefighters responded astatine astir 10 p.m. July 24 to reports of a combat astatine the flat analyzable astatine 1201 N. Alvernon Way.

SEND US A TIP

Officers discovered Gehrke and a antheral suffering from injuries, constabulary said. Gehrke was taken to a infirmary successful life-threatening information portion the unidentified attacker fled earlier officers arrived.

Investigators learned that Gehrke and the antheral had been connected an flat patio erstwhile Jefferson allegedly approached the area, became confrontational and assaulted some of them, according to police.

MAN CHARGED IN FATAL STABBING OF US MARINE IN NORTH CAROLINA HAD CRIMINAL RECORD SPANNING THREE DECADES

The antheral unfortunate was allegedly punched archetypal and suffered superior injuries aft falling to the ground.

Dahseir Edward Jefferson, 27, was charged with second-degree execution during a tribunal quality connected July 29, 2026. (Arizona Department of Corrections)

FOLLOW US ON X

Detectives identified Jefferson during the archetypal probe and began searching for him, constabulary said. Members of the Tucson Police Department’s assemblage engagement squad located him connected July 28 adjacent Speedway Boulevard and Country Club Road and arrested him.

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Jefferson had antecedently served clip successful an Arizona situation for aggravated assault, according to authorities records.

He was sentenced to 5 years successful 2021 and released successful October 2024. He besides had an earlier burglary conviction.

GET BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

The Tucson Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that Susan Gehrke, 61, died from her injuries pursuing an onslaught astatine an flat complex. (Facebook/Susan Gehrke)

"Susan was a beacon of airy to everyone who knew her," the household said. "She spent her full beingness moving tirelessly, pouring her bosom into her family, and putting others earlier herself. She was conscionable connected the brink of retiring — a milestone she had worked truthful hard for and was truthful excited to yet enjoy."

GOT A TIP?

Her household said that she bushed crab 2 times.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Words cannot picture the symptom and daze our household is navigating close now. After beating crab twice, her beingness was taken by a convulsive idiosyncratic with anterior transgression charges of violence," household said.

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

Detectives with the department’s Robbery Assault Unit and Homicide Unit are continuing to investigate.