Arizona grandmother Susan Gehrke fatally attacked by recidivist criminal

61‑year‑old Susan Gehrke, a two‑time cancer survivor from Tucson, Arizona, was killed after a violent assault outside her home on July 24. The attacker, 27‑year‑old Dahseir Edward Jefferson, a repeat offender who had been released from prison in October 2024, struck Gehrke unconscious while she was defending a friend. She fell backward, hit her head, and suffered a brain hemorrhage.

Gehrke was rushed to a hospital, underwent emergency surgery, and was placed on a ventilator, but she succumbed to her injuries on July 29. Jefferson has been charged with second‑degree murder.

The case highlights concerns about the release and supervision of violent recidivists, as Jefferson had previously served a five‑year sentence for robbery and related offenses.