SANTAN, AZ – A Gila River police officer was killed and another injured, along with four other individuals, following a shooting early Saturday morning in the Gila River Indian Community.
Authorities report that Gila River police responded to a disturbance call around 2 a.m. at a residence in the Santan area. As officers attempted to manage a large crowd at the scene, multiple gunshots were fired, resulting in injuries to two officers and four other people.
All six individuals were transported to local hospitals with varying degrees of injuries. Tragically, Officer Joshua Briese, who had been with the force for less than a year and was still in field training, succumbed to his injuries. The second officer remains in serious but stable condition.
The Gila River Police Department confirmed that at least one of the other four people shot has also died. The conditions of the remaining injured individuals have not been disclosed. It is currently unclear if the shooter or shooters are still at large, as no suspect information has been released.
The FBI and Gila River police are conducting a joint investigation into the incident. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Gila River Police Department at 520-562-7144.
Officer Briese’s death is particularly poignant as his father, also a police officer, died in the line of duty in 2006. Friends and colleagues remember Briese as being deeply inspired by his father’s legacy. “If he was sure about something, it’s that he wanted to follow in his dad’s steps,” said Sebastian Pena, a friend of Briese.
Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis expressed his condolences, stating, “We grieve for our fallen and injured police officers and every Community member touched by such tragic violence. Our focus will be on finding a path to healing from this tragic incident.”