Police officer dead, five others injured in Arizona shooting

SANTAN, Ariz. – A Phoenix area police officer was killed and another was injured – along with four other people – after a shooting Saturday morning in Arizona's Gila River Indian Community.

Gila River police said that around 2 a.m. they were dispatched to a home in the Santan area, outside Phoenix, for a reported disturbance.

When officers arrived on scene, one or more individuals fired shots as they encountered a large crowd of people. Six people were transported to area hospitals with various injuries. One of the officers, identified by authorities as Joshua Briese, later died.

The department says Officer Briese had been on the force for less than a year and was still undergoing a field training program. The second injured police officer is said to be in serious but stable condition.

Police said at least one of the four other people shot also died. Specific conditions regarding the other injured were not immediately available, Scripps News Phoenix reported.

It was unclear Saturday whether one or more suspects who fired the shots were still at large. No suspicious information was immediately released. Gila River Police and the FBI are investigating.

Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis released a statement Saturday morning, writing, “We are coordinating closely with law enforcement to ensure we fully understand what happened here. I know I speak for our entire community when I say we are grieving. for our fallen and injured police officers and for all members of the community affected by such tragic violence. »

Lewis said: “Nothing is more serious than a life cut short. We will pray for our officers and their families, as well as for every member of the community, every loved one and every family affected by what happened this morning.

This story was originally published by Scripps News Phoenix.