Maribel Castillo

The Republic | azcentral.com

A corrections officer in Florence turned himself in to authorities Thursday in connection with the fatal shooting of his mother, police say.

Alexander A. Santiago, 41, who reportedly resigned from the Arizona Department of Corrections on Thursday night, admitted to a sergeant that he had shot someone, according to a Florence Police Department statement.

The sergeant, whose name was not released, noticed a suspicious man — Santiago — walking through the back parking lot of the police department at about 10 a.m., the statement said.

After questioning Santiago, officials found a woman with a fatal gunshot wound to the head in the 400 block of E. Eighth Street in Florence.

Police identified the woman as Sean M. Lafitte, 61, Santiago's mother and roommate.

Police say Santiago told them he shot his mother because of his anger issues.

Florence Police Department detectives are leading the investigation in conjunction with the Pinal County Attorney's Office.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.