– Tribal police officer killed by gunfire at Phoenix-area home
– Phoenix-area home shooting leaves 2 officers dead, 4 wounded.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours of Saturday in the Gila River Indian Community, located south of Phoenix, resulting in the loss of two lives and the injury of several others. The incident, which occurred at a home in Santan, involved a tribal police officer and another individual being fatally shot, while a tribal officer and at least three other people sustained gunshot wounds.
The details surrounding the 2 a.m. shooting remain murky, with the Gila River Police Department confirming that officers responded to a 911 call reporting a disturbance at the residence. The FBI and tribal police have launched an investigation into the incident, describing the scene as “large” and indicating that multiple gunshots were fired upon the officers’ arrival.
Six individuals, including the two officers, were rushed to hospitals for treatment. Tragically, Officer Joshua Briese and a member of the Gila River community succumbed to their injuries. The wounded officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, underwent surgery and is reportedly in a “serious but stable” condition. The names and conditions of the other injured individuals have not been publicly disclosed at this time.
Briese, a rookie police officer still in the midst of field training, had served in the department for less than a year. The Arizona Republic reported that he was the son of a former sheriff’s deputy from Montana who had also lost his life in the line of duty. The circumstances leading up to the shooting, the number of individuals present at the scene, and any arrests made have not been disclosed by officials.
Tribal Governor Stephen Roe Lewis expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy, stating, “Nothing cuts deeper than a life cut short.” He emphasized the community’s commitment to working closely with law enforcement to unravel the events of that fateful night. In a poignant reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face, it was revealed that Briese’s father, David Briese, had lost his life in 2006 while responding to a backup call for a fellow officer in Montana.
As investigations continue and the community mourns the loss of lives, the Gila River Indian Community remains resilient in the face of such tragic violence..
– Tribal police officer killed Phoenix-area home
– Tribal police officer Phoenix-area home wounded.
