Arizona

Arizona tribe temporarily bans dances after fatal shooting of police officer

Published

2 years ago

June 2, 2024

Arizona tribe temporarily bans dances after fatal shooting of police officer

The Gila River Indian Community has issued a temporary ban on dances after a tribal police officer was fatally shot and another wounded while responding to a reported disturbance at a Santan home, tribal officials said Sunday.

Stephen Roe Lewis, governor of the tribe south of Phoenix, said a special meeting of community council’s leaders was held Saturday night.

The council approved a temporary moratorium on all permitted and non-permitted dances in the community, effective immediately, along with enhanced penalties for trespassing and disorderly conduct, he said.

The Phoenix FBI and Gila River Police Department will conduct a joint investigation of the shooting, though many details have not yet been released.

The Arizona Republic reported that the shooting occurred at a teenager’s birthday party in Santan, located in one of the tribal community’s seven districts.

Joshua Briese, who had been with the Gila River Police Department for less than a year and had not completed field training, responded to the scene along with another tribal police officer around 2 a.m. Saturday on a 911 disturbance call involving a large crowd.

Gila River Police Officer Joshua Briese was fatally shot and killed during a disturbance call at Gila River Indian Community. He was on the police force for less than a year and was in-field training.

Gila River Police Force

Police said multiple gunshots were fired and both officers were struck, with four other people wounded.

Briese was declared dead at a hospital, and the other officer, whose name hasn’t been released yet, was listed in serious but stable condition, according to police.

One of the four people wounded later died, police said. The names of the victims weren’t immediately available Sunday.

“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” the FBI Phoenix said in a statement Saturday.

“Our hearts and prayers are with these police officers, their families, and everyone impacted by this tragic incident,” Gila River police said.

Briese, 23, was the son of a former sheriff’s deputy in Montana who also died in the line of duty.

The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that David Briese was killed in a November 2006 car crash.

News reports said David Briese was responding at the time to a backup call for an officer who was dealing with a combative impaired driver in Billings, Montana.

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Arizona

Brayden Burries goes off in top-ranked Arizona’s win over No. 12 Alabama to remain unbeaten

Published

9 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Brayden Burries goes off in top-ranked Arizona’s win over No. 12 Alabama to remain unbeaten

Based on his pedigree coming in to college, it was presumed by many that Brayden Burries would step on the court and just dominate. Kind of like how Koa Peat did in his first collegiate game and most since.

Not everything happens instantaneously. And some things, like Burries’ breakthrough performance on Saturday night, are worth waiting for.

The freshman guard scored a career-high 28 points, fueling top-ranked Arizona to a 96-75 win over No. 12 Alabama in Birmingham. The Wildcats (9-0) earned their fifth win this season over a ranked opponent, matching the 1987-88 team that also went 5-0 in nonconference games against ranked foes.

Burries, who started heating up a few weeks ago and had averaged 17 points over the previous three games, was 11 of 19 from the field and drained five of Arizona’s 10 3-pointers. His performance was especially big because fellow freshman Koa Peat struggled with foul trouble, finishing with a career-low five points in 20 minutes, while Jaden Bradley also had to sit for an extended period in the second half becauise of fouls.

Bradley and Motiejus Krivas scored 14 apiece, with Krivas pulling down 14 rebounds, while Tobe Awaka had 15 boards as Arizona dominated Alabama 52-32 on the glass. The Wildcats had a 22-3 edge in offensive rebounds, leading to a 15-2 advantage in second chance points.

Alabama (7-3) got 24 points from Labaron Philon and 21 from Latrell Wrightstell Jr., with that duo going 15 of 28 including 6 of 12 from 3. But the Crimson Tide, who began 7 of 13 from 3, made only five more the rest of the way while the UA’s 38.5 percent shooting from outside was actually better.

Arizona was down 41-39 at the half, the first time it has trailed after 20 minutes this season. The Wildcats were back in front within two minutes and built a 49-43 lead thanks to a 10-0 run, but during that stretch Peat and Bradley each picked up their third foul.

Yet somehow, Arizona nearly tripled its lead with that duo on the bench.

The UA led 55-48 with 14:01 to go whenAwaka was called for a flagrant foul after Alabama coach Nate Oats appealed on a play that saw the Crimson Tide called for a foul. Both teams made 1 of 2 free throws from that, but then the Wildcats scored the next 11 with their defense fueling the charge.

Back-to-back steals by Ivan Kharchenkov and Burries led to transition baskets, with Burries lobbing to Awaka for a dunk and then scoring seven straight to put the UA up 67-49 with 11:22 remaining.

Kharchenkov had 10 points and five steals, most by an Arizona freshman since KJ Lewis had five two seasons ago.

Burries fourth 3 put the Wildcats up 20 and his fifth made it 75-54 with nine minutes left. Alabama hit back-to-back 3s for the first time since seven minutes left in the first half to get within 82-65 but got no closer.

Arizona built a 19-12 lead on a 3-point play by Burries but Alabama’s outside shooting got it right back into it. A 7-0 run put the Tide up 26-22 midway through the first half.

Alabama’s 7^th made 3 put it up 37-30 but then went cold, allowing the UA to retake the lead. A 9-0 run with seven straight from Bradley and then capped by a Peat jumper put the Wildcats up 39-37 with 1:51 left in the half.

Two late baskets by the Crimson Tide put it back in front at the break.

Arizona returns home to take on Abilene Christian on Tuesday night before facing San Diego State in Phoenix next Saturday.

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Arizona

High pressure could bring record-setting temps to parts of Arizona

Published

21 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

High pressure could bring record-setting temps to parts of Arizona

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A nice and cool start to our morning with lows in the upper 40s to the lower 50s with mostly clear skies.

We have a very strong ridge of high pressure that will heat things up once again.

Our average high this time of year is 66 degrees; we will be about 13 degrees above that with a high of 79 this afternoon.

The warm weather will stick around again on Sunday with a few passing clouds.

The Maricopa County Air Quality Department has declared a No-Burn Day for Saturday and Sunday due to high smoke levels.

A few areas will hit 80 degrees, which would be a new record high for tomorrow.

Up in the high country and all around the state, we will see above-average temperatures that will last into the middle of next week.

As we get closer to the big holiday next week, we are starting to see signs of a chance of rain and mountain snowfall.

We will keep you updated as we get closer.

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Arizona

Rural Arizona couple learns the hard way property has no fire protection

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Rural Arizona couple learns the hard way property has no fire protection

CLARKDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — A couple moving to Arizona from North Dakota learned they had no fire protection coverage when a shed fire broke out on their Mingus Mountain property, which is northeast of Prescott, this week.

Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded using fire extinguishers from their patrol cars and shoveling dirt to put out hot spots around the burning shed.

Monday’s fire was how Kevin and Sue Hoerner learned their property sits outside the jurisdiction of any city or formal fire district.

“We’re aware of that now,” Kevin Hoerner said, laughing.

The Hoerners’ property is one of thousands of so-called “no man’s land” properties across Arizona that fall outside fire district boundaries, according to state forestry officials.

“We are looking into this right now. There’s about 13,000 properties just in Yavapai County,” said Tiffany Davila with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.

The couple said they had no idea their property lacked fire protection when they purchased it.

“Either someone didn’t tell me or I didn’t even think to ask such a question,” Kevin Hoerner said. “I’ll tell you, in North Dakota, there is no such thing.”

Property owners in these areas may be eligible to annex into a nearby fire district or purchase a fire protection agreement with another provider.

The Hoerners said exploring those options is next on their list. They don’t blame anyone but themselves for the situation.

“It’s just something that now we know,” Sue Hoerner said.

The shed fire resulted in a $30,000-50,000 loss, destroying propane tanks, lithium batteries for solar power and a generator. The couple said they are thankful the fire didn’t spread to the forest or neighboring properties.

They set up a GoFundMe page to help Kevin rebuild his workshop.

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