Alleged U of A shooter accepts plea deal, charged with manslaughter

A Tucson man, Ryan Martin Romero-Encinas, has accepted a plea deal that reduces his charge from first-degree murder to manslaughter, according to court documents from KGUN9. The charge stems from the death of Minhaj Jamshidi, which occurred on September 22, 2024. Romero-Encinas pleaded guilty to manslaughter, classified as a Class 2 dangerous nature felony.

Under Arizona law, the plea agreement dictates that Romero-Encinas faces a minimum sentence of 7 years, with a presumptive sentence of 10.5 years and a maximum of 21 years in prison. He is required to serve at least 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for release, and probation is not an option under the current plea deal. Additionally, the agreement mandates that he pay restitution to the victim's family.

The formal sentencing for Romero-Encinas is scheduled for April 21 at 10 a.m. in the Pima County Superior Court, where the exact length of his prison term will be determined. The plea deal also entails the dismissal of all other charges against him.

As part of the agreement, Romero-Encinas is prohibited from contacting the victim's family and has waived his right to appeal the conviction. Local news outlet KGUN9 will continue to follow the developments of this case and provide further updates as they become available.