61-year-old Susan Gehrke died four days after a July 24 attack at an apartment complex in Tucson.
Tucson police confirmed Gehrke’s death on July 28, with 27-year-old Dahseir Edward Jefferson arrested four days after the attack.
Jefferson was initially booked on two counts of aggravated assault, but police later amended charges to include second-degree murder following Gehrke’s death.
Jefferson is being held on a $650,000 bond.
“Susan was a beacon of light to everyone who knew her,” Angelina Zills said in a post. “She spent her entire life working tirelessly, pouring her heart into her family, and putting others before herself.
The family added that Gehrke was on the brink of retiring and was excited to finally enjoy that milestone, but “after beating cancer twice, her life was taken by a violent individual with prior criminal charges of violence.”
According to a GoFundMe drive, Gehrke was nearing retirement and was set to celebrate her birthday on Aug. 3.
Tucson police officers and firefighters responded at approximately 10 p.m. July 24 to reports of a fight at the apartment complex at 1201 N. Alvernon Way.
In the viral moment, Gehrke and a companion were sitting on an apartment patio when
Jefferson allegedly approached the area, became confrontational and assaulted both of them.
Jefferson allegedly punched a man first, causing him to fall and hit his head, with the man suffering a laceration under his left eye, a large contusion to his head and scrapes to his back and knee.
He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
Jefferson then allegedly punched Gehrke, causing her to fall and hit her head, knocking her unconscious and causing a brain bleed.
Investigators said the punch was so hard that it broke part of Gehrke’s dentures, which flew out and hit the ground.
“My grandma is not a person that likes being around confrontation, so she probably just wanted to get him up and go inside,” said Frankie Zills.
Gehrke’s family said it was hard to see her in the hospital and that she looked “unrecognizable.”
“We had my 15-year-old son there with us, and he wanted to see her,” said Gehrke’s daughter Felicia. “She was beat so bad. We went in, I was like, he can’t come up here and see her, there’s no way.”
“How many innocent people and family members have to be taken before the state figures out that you can’t rehabilitate people like this,” said Zills.
Jefferson had previously served time in an Arizona prison for aggravated assault and was sentenced to five years in 2021, being released in October 2024.
He also had an earlier burglary conviction.
While in prison, Jefferson was found guilty of disorderly conduct, weapon possession, tampering with a security or safety device, disobeying an order, possession of a communication device, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession or manufacture of an intoxicating substance.
Gehrke graduated from Tucson’s Sunnyside High School in 1982 and worked as a pharmacy technician at FalconTek, a workforce staffing company.
She was a fan of the Green Bay Packers, loved dogs and wildlife, and supported public education and teachers.
Gehrke’s family is collecting funds through GoFundMe to cover expenses for her funeral and memorial service, end-of-life care and legal support, and a memorial tribute for what should have been her 63rd birthday on Monday, August 3.