2 Dead, Including Tribal Police Officer, in Early Morning Arizona Shooting

A tribal police officer and another person were killed early Saturday morning in a shooting in Arizona’s Gila River Indian Community.

Another officer and three more civilians were wounded at what Gila River Police described as “a disturbance at a home.” A large crowd was involved, police said, and multiple gunshots were fired as police responded.

The two officers and four others were taken to local hospitals, where Officer Joshua Briese died from his wounds. The other officer was reported to be in serious but stable condition.

Conditions of the other three victims was not released. The dead civilian’s identity has not been released.

Tribal Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis released a statement after the shooting saying tribal authorities were working closely with law enforcement, KOLD reported.

Gila River Police said Briese had been with the department for less than a year. The department is working with the FBI on the investigation.

The Yellowstone County, Montana, Sheriff’s Office said that Briese was the son of Yellowstone Deputy Dave Briese, who died in the line of duty in a car crash on Interstate 90 in 2006.

The Gila River Indian Community is south of the cities of Phoenix and Chandler in Pinal and Maricopa Counties. It is home to members of the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and the Pee-Posh (Maricopa) tribes.

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[Featured image: Joshua Briese/Gila River Police Department]