An officer and a civilian lost their lives, while another officer and three others were injured in a shooting early Saturday morning in the Gila River Indian Community, Arizona. The FBI announced on Sunday that two suspects, an adult male and a juvenile male, have been taken into custody.
The suspects, identified by both the FBI and Gila River Police, are currently receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained during the incident. The shooting took place in Santan, District 4, when officers responded to a large gathering at a home around 2 a.m. local time. Upon arrival, they encountered a barrage of gunfire.
Officer Joshua Briese, who had been with the force for less than a year and was still undergoing field training, was among the six individuals shot. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Another victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, was pronounced dead at the scene. An additional officer was seriously injured but is in stable condition, while the three other civilian victims are recuperating in the hospital.
The investigation, led by the FBI in collaboration with the Gila River Police Department, is ongoing, with no specified timeline for its conclusion. Once completed, the case will be transferred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona for a charging decision.
Officer Briese’s death is especially poignant, as his father also died in the line of duty in a car accident in 2006. The community is deeply affected by this tragedy.
Governor Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community expressed his profound sorrow, stating, “I know I speak for our entire Community when I say that we grieve for our fallen and injured police officers and every Community member touched by such tragic violence. Nothing cuts deeper than a life cut short. We will pray for our officers and their families, and for every Community member, every loved one, and every family impacted by what happened this morning.”