A Tucson man has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder after authorities say he shot and killed a man then set the body ablaze in an effort to retrieve the bullet casing, authorities said.
Christopher Compton, 43, was arrested Monday and booked into the Pima County jail on a $1 million bond on one count of first degree murder, police say.
Tucson police received an anonymous tip about the killing on Saturday, prompting officers to search an area near East Poinciana Drive and South Almond Street — near South Pantano and East Escalante roads — where they located a badly burned body, according to an interim complaint filed in Pima County Justice Court.
A single cartridge case was located next to the remains.
The tipster told police that Compton had gone to a family member’s home on Dec. 9, looking for bleach and asking to use his washing machine. He also asked the tipster if a metal detector would locate a brass bullet casing, the complaint says.
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At some point, the family member said, Compton began to cry and confessed to the killing. He said Compton had been threatening him since he confessed, the complaint says.
The burned body was found near Compton’s home, police said. The body was too burned to make an immediate identification, police said.
Compton told police he did not live with the alleged victim but allowed him to shower at his home.
The family member told police Compton said he shot the man with what he thought was a paintball gun during an argument about a stolen battery charger, the complaint says.
