A Tucson grandmother who twice survived cancer died after she was allegedly attacked by a felon outside her apartment complex, authorities said.The Tucson Police Department confirmed that 61-year-old Susan Gehrke died four days after a July 24 attack at an apartment complex.Dahseir Edward Jefferson, 27, was arrested four days after the attack and initially booked on two counts of aggravated assault.Police later amended the charges to include second-degree murder following Gehrke’s death.
He is being held on a $650,000 bond.VETERAN OWNER OF ICONIC 'TRUMP HOUSE' DIES AFTER VICIOUS ALLEGED BEATING BY STRANGER61-year-old Susan Gehrke died from her injuries following a July 24, 2026 attack.(GoFundMe)CLICK HERE FOR MORE U.S.
NEWSThe late grandmother’s family told KOLD the injuries left her "unrecognizable.""She’s an old lady that literally worked her whole life to support her family, and that’s the most memorable thing that anybody could do," Gehrke’s grandson, Frankie Zills, told the outlet.Tucson police officers and firefighters responded at approximately 10 p.m.July 24 to reports of a fight at the apartment complex at 1201 N.
Alvernon Way.SEND US A TIPOfficers discovered Gehrke and a man suffering from injuries, police said.Gehrke was taken to a hospital in life-threatening condition while the unidentified attacker fled before officers arrived.Investigators learned that Gehrke and the man had been on an apartment patio when Jefferson allegedly approached the area, became confrontational and assaulted both of them, according to police.MAN CHARGED IN FATAL STABBING OF US MARINE IN NORTH CAROLINA HAD CRIMINAL RECORD SPANNING THREE DECADESThe male victim was allegedly punched first and suffered serious injuries after falling to the ground.Dahseir Edward Jefferson, 27, was charged with second-degree murder during a court appearance on July 29, 2026.
(Arizona Department of Corrections)FOLLOW US ON XDetectives identified Jefferson during the initial investigatio...