Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Gabriel Facio died six days after being shot in the face by a driver who had been pulled over for brandishing a gun in a road-rage incident in the area near Ironwood Drive and Elliott Road.
On the morning of Monday, June 2, Officer Facio and additional officers responded to a road-rage incident involving a driver who had allegedly threatened others with a gun. After being pulled over, the driver was initially cooperative. However, when asked to step out of the vehicle, he became aggressive, retrieved a handgun from the glove compartment, and exited the vehicle. The subject kept walking down Radience Avenue. Officers ordered him to stop and attempted to subdue him with non-lethal weapons, but the subject fired at the officers, striking Officer Facio in the face. Officers returned fire, wounding the subject.
Officer Facio was rushed to the hospital, where he remained in critical condition for six days before succumbing to his wounds just after 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 8.
The subject was injured and also taken to the hospital. When he was released, he was charged with one count of first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement, and two counts of disorderly conduct involving a weapon.
Officer Facio had served with the Apache Junction Police Department for nearly four years and had previously served as an officer in Phoenix and other agencies in the area.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, daughter, son, parents, and a grandchild.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-B9C909F0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Facio gave the Apache Junction Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Apache Junction community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Facio.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Gabriel Facio is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Apache Junction Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gabriel Facio's cause is highlighted.
How Gabriel Facio Compares
Offender Outcome
Injured; charged with homicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gabriel Facio is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gabriel Facio was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Apache Junction Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
