APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. — Officer Gabriel Facio, a 46-year-old Apache Junction police officer and father of two, has died after being shot in the line of duty on June 2 while responding to reports of a man brandishing a firearm, AZ Central reported.
Facio died six days later, becoming the first Apache Junction officer and the first law enforcement officer in Arizona to be killed in the line of duty in 2025.
According to Apache Junction Police Chief Michael Pooley, Facio responded to reports that a man was carrying a firearm. Officers attempted to engage the man with verbal commands and less-lethal options before he opened fire. In the ensuing exchange, both Facio and the suspect were shot. Facio was airlifted to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries and succumbed to those injuries on June 8, surrounded by family and fellow officers.
“It is with a broken heart I inform you of the passing of Officer Gabriel Facio…” Pooley said during a news conference. “He was a beloved father, husband, son, brother, friend, and police officer who showed his passion for people through his service to others.”
Facio was a three-year veteran of the Apache Junction Police Department and a former officer with the Phoenix Police Department. Originally from Mexico, he immigrated to the United States with the specific goal of becoming a police officer and earning his citizenship. Pooley said that Facio’s proudest achievement was being a father. He leaves behind two children, including a daughter set to marry later this summer and a son who recently became a father, making Facio a grandfather.
Facio’s wife has already expressed forgiveness for her husband’s suspected killer, Pooley said, highlighting the strength of the Facio family during this tragedy.
The suspected shooter remains hospitalized. Police later confirmed the weapon used was a “ghost gun.” He is expected to face multiple charges, including homicide.
A funeral for Facio is scheduled for June 16. A GoFundMe page has been created to support his family. In the days following his death, more than 100 officers from neighboring departments, including Mesa and Phoenix, participated in an honor escort as Facio’s body was transported to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office.
