KOLD News 13 live, local and late breaking-UA Grad Student Mugged, Left Paralyzed

UA Grad Student Mugged, Left Paralyzed

By Som Lisaius, KOLD News 13 Crime Specialist

Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

That's what happened to 29-year-old Francisco Baires as he was walking home with his girlfriend weeks ago. They were minding their own business, enjoying each other's company, when somebody drove up and nearly beat the life out of this innocent, young man.     

It's shortly after 2 a.m., June 26th, when Francisco Baires and his girlfriend leave a downtown establishment and head home.

Says Tucson Police Detective Scott Haynes, "They were northbound on Stone.  They went under the underpass and were walking on the sidewalk when an 80's style, boxy-style vehicle pulled up behind them."     

This is a computer-generated rendering of the man who police say got out of the vehicle and tried to rob them.  With a blunt object in hand, the suspect grew increasingly agitated when he learned the couple had no money or jewelry.  So when Francisco tried to diffuse the situation, the man hit him over the head jumped back in the car and drove away.

After the attack, the victim collected himself and walked all the way home.   There was no blood, no noticeable injuries.  But less than three hours later, he was almost dead.     

Baires suffered several tears in the brain that resulted in significant bleeding under his skull.      That morning he was rushed into emergency surgery where doctors removed a portion of his skull to relieve pressure on his brain.   With friends and family by his side Francisco remained in a coma the next seven days.

"One of his friends flew in from Vermont the other day just to see him, another one drove non-stop from Houston."    

That's Francisco's mother Pamela Schultz who lives in Florida.  She says her son came to Tucson to attend graduate school at the University of Arizona.  He'd received a Fellowship in Forensic Anthropology and was volunteering at the Pima County's Office of the Medical Examiner until school started.     

All was going exactly as planned, she says, until this man changed everything.   She's thankful her son continues to show improvement.   Though the left side of Francisco's body remains paralyzed to this day.

"I am not looking for any revenge," Mrs Schultz says, her voice as strained as the pain on her face.  "I don't have that in me--and my son doesn't either.  There is no anger, but we really don't want someone else to get hurt."     

If you have any information about this man or this June 26th incident near Stone Avenue and Sixth Street,  you're asked to call 9-1-1 or 88 Crime.  Again, the suspect was driving a light colored, boxy, 1980's model vehicle and had an African-American passenger in the car along with him.   As always, you can remain anonymous.  It isn't who you are, it's what you know that could help solve this case.