Officer Fighting for Life After Face Shot
Officer Gabriel Facio of the Apache Junction Police Department remains in critical condition after a suspect shot him in the face during a road rage incident Monday morning. Police Chief Michael Pooley told the city council Tuesday night that Facio “is still fighting for his life” and is in “extremely critical condition.” During a news conference, Pooley said Facio “is not anywhere close from being in a stable condition.” Speaking with County Attorney Brad Miller, Pooley stated during the city council meeting that Miller “is committed to prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law.”
The shooting occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. Monday when officers responded to reports of a man brandishing a firearm from a white Tesla near Ironwood Road and Ray Avenue. What began as a routine traffic stop escalated into a deadly confrontation that left one of Apache Junction’s most beloved officers clinging to life.
About Officer Gabriel Facio
Facio is a three-year veteran of the Apache Junction Police Department and will reach his fourth year in September. Before joining Apache Junction, he worked for the City of Phoenix after graduating from the Phoenix Police Academy.
Chief Pooley described Facio as “kind of the heartbeat of our department” and “one of my personal favorites.” The chief noted that Facio maintains a great attitude and always supports his colleagues when needed. “Everybody loves Officer Facio,” Pooley said during a news conference.
Facio is married and has two children. Pooley called him “a wonderful human being,” “a good man,” “a family man,” and “a husband and a father” who “wants nothing but the best for the city of Apache Junction and the entire state of Arizona.”
The Suspect: Roger Nunez
The gunman has been identified as 37-year-old Roger Nunez, an Apache Junction resident. Nunez has very limited criminal history and was not on police radar before the incident, according to Chief Pooley. He was not a prohibited possessor, showed no previous signs of violent behavior, and there was no indication he was a violent felon.
Nunez survived the shooting after officers returned fire and struck him. He remains hospitalized while facing multiple charges of aggravated assault on law enforcement officers. Pooley confirmed that Nunez was not a prohibited possessor and showed no previous signs of violent behavior.
Detailed Account of the Incident
The confrontation began when an Apache Junction officer conducting traffic enforcement located Nunez’s white Tesla after receiving the road rage report. Initially, Nunez appeared compliant when the officer initiated the traffic stop.
The situation deteriorated when the officer asked Nunez to step out of his vehicle. Nunez used a code to open his glove box, retrieved a handgun, and exited the Tesla with the weapon in hand. He began walking away from the officer despite commands to stop.
At one point, Nunez told the officer he wanted to be shot, indicating what Chief Pooley characterized as “suicide by cop” behavior. Officers followed Nunez on foot for approximately one mile, attempting to gain compliance through verbal commands and less-lethal methods, including pepper ball guns. These tactics had no effect on the suspect.
The pursuit ended in the Radiance at Superstition Vistas neighborhood, a new D.R. Horton development in the southern part of the city. There, Nunez suddenly pulled his firearm up and fired four rounds from approximately 60 to 70 yards away. Chief Pooley called it a “one-in-a-billion shot” that struck Officer Facio in the face.
Four other Apache Junction officers immediately returned fire, striking Nunez. Officers quickly loaded the critically wounded Facio into a patrol vehicle and rushed him to Banner Hospital, about a mile and a half away. Medical staff there stabilized him before he was transported to a Level I trauma hospital, where he remains.
The weapon Nunez used was identified as a “ghost gun” – an unmarked firearm with no serial numbers that can be manufactured from different pieces and sometimes with 3D printers. Mesa Police Department will investigate where the gun came from as part of their investigation.
Law Enforcement Support
The shooting has prompted an outpouring of support from law enforcement agencies across the region. The Mesa Police Department is serving as the lead investigative agency through the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team (EVCIRT).
Multiple police departments have offered assistance to Apache Junction, which has just under 100 sworn officers and about 150 total department staff. Chief Pooley noted that other agencies have reached out offering coverage, and the department may need to accept help from certified officers who can work across jurisdictions in Arizona.
Community Asked to Pray for Officer
During Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Chief Pooley made an emotional plea for community support. “We ask that anybody who can, to pray and have positive thoughts about him,” Pooley said. “We’re hoping for a miracle.”
The chief, who expressed emotional distress emphasized the critical nature of Facio’s condition and the need for continued prayers. He reiterated this message during the news conference, stating, “I believe in prayer. I pray. I think any kind of prayers for comfort for the family, for Officer Facio, would be something that anybody and everybody can do.”
The Apache Junction Police Department has created an online space where community members can share messages of support for Officer Facio and his family.
Prosecution Plans
Chief Pooley confirmed that County Attorney Brad Miller has committed to prosecuting the case “to the fullest extent of the law.” The suspect will face multiple counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement officers, which Pooley described as carrying “a pretty hefty fine and penalty.”
The charges will include counts related to both the original road rage incident and the shooting of Officer Facio. The Mesa Police Department continues investigating the incident, including tracing the origin of the ghost gun used in the attack.
