On Saturday, May 9, 2026, two men died in what Yuma Police described as an apparent murder‑suicide that unfolded in two separate locations.
Just before 8 p.m., officers responded to reports of a shooting near Carver Park, in the area of 3rd Street and 13th Avenue. When they arrived, they found 67‑year‑old Alvin Nelson unresponsive under a gazebo. Officers performed lifesaving measures before Nelson was transported to a nearby hospital.
About ten minutes later, police received another call reporting an attempted suicide roughly two miles away near 18th Street and 5th Avenue. There, officers found 55‑year‑old Richard Carter, who investigators believe shot Nelson. Carter was suffering from serious injuries and was taken to a hospital.
Police later confirmed that both Nelson and Carter died from their injuries. Detectives are continuing to investigate the sequence of events, but preliminary findings indicate Carter shot Nelson at Carver Park before attempting to take his own life at the second location.
The Yuma Police Department has not released further details about the motive or whether the men were acquainted. Authorities said the investigation remains active, with evidence being collected from both scenes.
The incident has left the Yuma community shaken, as residents grapple with the sudden loss of two lives in a violent episode that began in a public park. Officials have urged anyone with information to contact the Yuma Police Department as they work to finalize the case.