Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Eric Shuhandler was shot and killed after stopping a vehicle occupied by two males near the intersection of Val Vista and Baseline Roads, near the border with Mesa.
When Lieutenant Shuhandler approached the passenger side of the vehicle to contact the passenger, the passenger fired a single shot, striking Lieutenant Shuhandler in the head.
Two sergeants from the Mesa Police Department heard the shot and found Lieutenant Shuhandler at the same time as Gilbert police received a 911 call reporting the shooting. He was transported to a local hospital where he died from his wound.
The suspects were located several minutes later, and a 50-mile high-speed chase began along Highway 60, with several units pursuing the pickup through Phoenix-area communities. The suspects fired several rounds and threw objects from their vehicle at the pursuing officers. The vehicle abruptly stopped in the town of Superior, and both suspects were wounded in an exchange of gunfire with officers from four agencies. Both suspects were arrested at the scene.
On October 14th, 2010, the driver was convicted of aggravated assault, drive-by shooting, and unlawful flight, and sentenced to 107 years in prison. Lieutenant Shuhandler's killer was convicted of first-degree murder in an unrelated case and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on March 21st, 2012. He was charged with capital murder for killing Lieutenant Shuhandler. On May 7, 2019, he was convicted of his murder and sentenced to life. He died in prison in 2024.
Lieutenant Shuhandler had served with the Gilbert Police Department for 16 years. He had previously served with the Manasquan, New Jersey, Police Department for 1-1/2 years and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for four years.
Survivors
He is survived by his two daughters, sister, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-E84E24B0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
21 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Shuhandler gave the Gilbert Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Gilbert community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Shuhandler.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Eric Lewis Shuhandler is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Gilbert Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Eric Lewis Shuhandler's cause is highlighted.
How Eric Lewis Shuhandler Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eric Lewis Shuhandler is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Eric Lewis Shuhandler was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Gilbert Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
