The Gila River Indian Community in Arizona has instituted a temporary ban on dancing following an incident where two police officers were shot while responding to a disturbance on the reservation.
Governor Stephen Roe Lewis announced that a special meeting of tribal leaders resulted in a decision to place a temporary moratorium on both permitted and nonpermitted dances within the tribal community. This decision was made in the wake of an event on Saturday that left one tribal police officer dead and another injured.
“I know I speak for our entire Community when I say that we grieve for our fallen and injured police officers and every Community member touched by such tragic violence. Nothing cuts deeper than a life cut short,” Lewis said.
The FBI in Phoenix has launched an investigation into the death of rookie police officer Joshua Briese, who was killed in the line of duty. Briese, who had been with the force for less than a year and was still in training, responded to a reported disturbance around 2 a.m. on Saturday. At the time of his arrival, a large crowd had gathered.
Multiple shots were fired, resulting in Briese’s death and critical injuries to another officer. Additionally, four other individuals were hit by the gunfire, and one of them succumbed to their injuries, as reported by NBC News.
“Our hearts and prayers are with these police officers, their families, and everyone impacted by this tragic incident,” stated the Gila River Police Department on Facebook.
Governor Lewis mentioned that he is working closely with law enforcement to gain a “comprehensive understanding” of the events that transpired Saturday morning.
Authorities have two suspects in custody, one adult and one juvenile. The FBI and the Gila River Police Department will be conducting a joint investigation into the incident.
