Apache Junction Officer Gabriel Facio Funeral Attracts Valleywide Tribute

Officer Gabriel Facio, a three-year veteran of the Apache Junction Police Department, was fatally shot in the face on June 2 during a traffic stop involving a suspect brandishing a weapon. The suspect, 37-year-old Roger Nunez, fired multiple rounds before officers returned fire, injuring both men; Facio succumbed to his injuries six days later. Facio's funeral took place on June 16 at Central Christian Church in Mesa, preceded by a public procession from the police department, with many law enforcement agencies participating and the community invited to pay respects. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs ordered flags at state government buildings to be flown at half-staff on the day of the funeral. The services were livestreamed by multiple news outlets, and donations were encouraged to support Facio's surviving wife, two children, and grandchild. Facio was the first officer killed in the line of duty in Apache Junction and the first in Arizona in 2025.