A Gila River Police officer was fatally shot and another seriously injured in an early morning disturbance turned deadly in the Gila River Indian Community. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Saturday in Santan, located in District 4, where responding officers encountered a large crowd and gunfire, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.
Officers were quick to respond to the initially reported disturbance, only to suddenly be met with bullets. Amidst the chaos, six individuals were shot, including two officers. Tragically, 23-year-old officer Joshua Briese succumbed to his injuries, FOX 10 Phoenix detailed the officer's passing, who had served the department for less than a year and was still in training. His partner remains in serious but stable condition, while another civilian was also pronounced dead. The identities of the other victims have not been disclosed..
In a somber echo of his department's past, Officer Briese was following in the footsteps of his father, David Briese, who fell in the line of duty as a Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office deputy in 2006. "He was just an officer you could depend on to show up when you needed him. And he just took pride in his job," Officer Terry Neill, who previously worked with Briese at the Arizona Department of Corrections, told FOX 10 Phoenix.
With the community in mourning, the Gila River Police Department and the FBI are collectively investigating the shooting. KTAR News has reported the arrest of two suspects related to the incident - an adult and a juvenile. Both are currently receiving medical treatment for injuries incurred during the deadly exchange. The FBI will continue to gather evidence and conduct interviews before handing the case to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona to possibly make a charging decision.
