‘There was always this excitement’: mentor of U of A shooting victim remembers his life aspirations | News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — One of Minhaj Jamshidi’s high school mentors is speaking out about what the young refugee from Afghanistan dreamed of doing with his life.

Family and those who knew Jamshidi are still reeling over his sudden death this past Sunday.

The 19-year-old Pima Community College student was shot and killed after a fight at the University of Arizona volleyball courts near Park avenue and Fourth street in Tucson.

Jamshidi graduated from Catalina High School.

News 4 Tucson caught up with a Tucson Unified program coordinator who helped Jamshidi assimilate to life in the United States since he was originally from Afghanistan.

He says Jamshidi will be dearly missed.

“You look at him and there was always this excitement this readiness for the next thing,” said Aidan Lewis, a TUSD program coordinator.

Lewis’ job was to help Jamshidi adjust to life at Catalina High School both academically and personally after he arrived in 2022.

Jamshidi eventually joined the wrestling team.

“He was a phenomenal wrestler. He wanted to start his own business that was what he told me shortly before graduating. We talked about a construction business and so I advised him about Pima (Community) College and we looked into financial aid and their programs,” Lewis said.

Jamshidi did enroll at Pima Community College and his friends tell News 4 Tucson that he worked at Opa’s Grill off Fourth avenue.

Unfortunately Jamshidi’s dream was cut short when he was shot and killed on the U of A campus Sunday.

The suspect Ryan Romero-Encinas was arrested Wednesday turning himself in after a three day search.

His apprehension came as welcome news to family and friends here in a city that had become Jamshidi’s home.

“I felt relieved… And then for the Afghan community in Tucson this is a devastating event,” Lewis said.

The man accused of killing Jamshidi could face life in prison or the death penalty if he is found guilty of first degree murder.

Romero-Encinas currently being held on a $1 million bond at the Pima County Jail.