Investigators recovered weapons and drug paraphernalia while examining the apartment where a woman was killed.
SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. — Detectives in southeastern Arizona are investigating a deadly shooting that killed a woman and a dog inside an apartment and injured another person in a case police believe may be connected to domestic violence.
Sierra Vista police officers responded Wednesday to reports of gunfire at an apartment complex along Seventh Street and found 43-year-old Calisha Schafer dead inside a residence. Authorities also discovered a dog dead in the apartment and located an injured man suffering from a gunshot wound to his hand outside the building. Police said the man was transported to a hospital for treatment and that no suspects were outstanding as investigators continued processing evidence at the scene Thursday.
Emergency responders arrived at the apartment complex shortly after reports of shots fired spread through the neighborhood Wednesday afternoon. Witnesses described a rapid police response as officers blocked portions of the street and moved residents away from the immediate area while investigators entered the apartment. Inside, officers found Schafer deceased on the floor of the residence. Authorities later confirmed the dog also died during the incident. Investigators have not publicly explained whether the animal was struck during the shooting or died under separate circumstances. Sgt. Jene Seage said detectives were examining evidence pointing toward a domestic dispute but cautioned that the investigation remained active. Nearby residents told reporters they believed the people involved knew one another. Several neighbors said they heard multiple gunshots before police vehicles arrived and emergency personnel began moving through the complex.
Police said the injured man was discovered on exterior stairs near the apartment suffering from a gunshot wound to his hand. Authorities have not identified him publicly or explained whether he was considered a witness, victim or possible suspect. Investigators also have not released details about who contacted emergency dispatchers or whether children or additional occupants were inside the apartment at the time of the shooting. During a search of the residence, officers recovered numerous weapons and drug paraphernalia, according to the Sierra Vista Police Department. Officials did not specify how many firearms were found or whether any were legally owned. Detectives spent hours documenting evidence inside the apartment and interviewing residents in neighboring units. Police tape remained around portions of the complex into the evening as forensic investigators photographed the scene and collected physical evidence. Authorities said further information would be released after detectives completed witness interviews and reviewed forensic findings.
Public records show Schafer previously faced several criminal cases in Cochise County, including drug-related charges and DUI allegations. In 2019, sheriff’s deputies arrested Schafer after investigators reported finding methamphetamine inside a Sierra Vista hotel room. More recently, she was arrested following a serious wrong-way crash earlier this year. Authorities said Schafer allegedly drove in the wrong direction on Buffalo Soldier Trail before crashing into another vehicle, rolling several times and damaging multiple parked vehicles and an electrical box. According to reports from that case, officers accused her of resisting arrest and attempting to enter another person’s vehicle while trying to flee. Investigators in Wednesday’s shooting have not said whether those prior incidents had any direct connection to the events at the apartment complex. Still, records reviewed by investigators are expected to form part of the broader examination into the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the relationships between those involved.
As detectives continue their work, police have emphasized that there is no continuing danger to residents in the surrounding neighborhood. Authorities said no suspects remain at large and investigators believe everyone directly involved in the shooting has been identified. The Cochise County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to conduct an autopsy to formally determine Schafer’s cause of death. Investigators are also awaiting forensic testing involving firearms recovered from the apartment, including ballistic analysis that may help determine the sequence of shots fired. Police have not announced whether criminal charges are expected once the investigation concludes. Additional interviews with witnesses and the injured man are also anticipated as detectives continue building a timeline. Officials said prosecutors will review evidence after investigators complete their reports.
Residents near the apartment complex described a neighborhood shaken by the violence. Some gathered outside behind police tape for much of the afternoon while officers moved between patrol vehicles and the apartment building. Neighbor Ric Essman said hearing that a shooting happened so close to home left many residents uneasy even after police assured them there was no active threat. Others described the apartment complex as generally quiet and said they were surprised by the large emergency response. Flashing lights from police vehicles illuminated the narrow residential street as detectives carried evidence bags from the apartment late into the evening. Several residents remained outside watching investigators work until the scene was partially cleared Wednesday night.
Police said detectives expect to continue reviewing evidence through the weekend as investigators determine what events led to the deadly shooting. Officials have not announced when additional information or possible charging decisions may be released.
Author note: Last updated May 23, 2026.