TUCSON, Ariz. — A tragic incident has escalated into a murder case following the death of a grandmother who had battled cancer twice. Susan Gehrke, 61, succumbed to severe injuries five days after being attacked while trying to help her boyfriend during a confrontation at a local apartment complex.
Gehrke was hospitalized after the incident on July 24, which occurred at the 1201 N. Alvernon Way complex, when police were called to respond to reports of a fight. Initial investigations indicate she was struck in the face by 27-year-old Dahseir Edward Jefferson, who was later arrested and charged with aggravated assault. Following Gehrke’s death on July 29, authorities upgraded the charges against him to second-degree murder.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found both Gehrke and another man injured. Investigators reported that Gehrke was visiting her boyfriend when the confrontation, which began with Jefferson knocking on a neighboring apartment door, escalated. Family members recounted Jefferson verbally confronting Gehrke, who was attempting to defend her boyfriend when the violence ensued.
According to reports, Gehrke’s boyfriend was struck first and fell, suffering a serious head injury that required hospitalization. Gehrke approached him when she was then punched by Jefferson, falling and sustaining fatal blunt-force trauma to her head. An autopsy later confirmed her death was due to the injuries she suffered during the incident, ruling it a homicide.
Gehrke’s family expressed their devastation, highlighting her caring nature and the role she played in their lives. Her grandson, Frankie Zills, described her as someone who shied away from confrontation and was merely trying to aid her partner when the situation turned violent. The family’s grief intensified as they faced the reality of her unexpected death, particularly as she was preparing for retirement and her upcoming 62nd birthday.
Jefferson was apprehended on July 28, roughly four days after the incident, and has a history of prior convictions, including a 2021 aggravated assault charge for which he served five years in prison. Community members and family members have voiced concerns regarding his past record and the circumstances that led to his release prior to the attack on Gehrke.
As prosecutors prepared to move forward with the case, the court proceedings signified not only a legal response to Gehrke’s death but also the profound loss felt by her family. While Jefferson now faces serious charges, the family has been left grappling with their loss and the unanswered questions surrounding the motives and events of that night.
The investigation continues as the judicial process unfolds, and as Jefferson remains presumed innocent, the path toward justice for Gehrke is set to commence in court. Her family continues to remember her as a beloved figure devoted to those she loved, instead of celebrating milestones that now feel overshadowed by tragedy.