A federal grand jury has indicted Joseph Notah in connection with the tragic June 1 shooting that claimed the life of Gila River police Officer Joshua Briese, as well as a civilian, and left several others injured.
Filed on November 26, the indictment accuses Notah of brandishing a Del-Ton DTI-15 semi-automatic rifle and assaulting Officer Briese during the incident, which occurred in the Santan area of the Gila River Indian Community. Notah faces charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Although the indictment does not specify whether Notah fired the weapon, it states that he would be required to forfeit the rifle if convicted. Notah’s initial court appearance and arraignment were scheduled for December 6 at the Sandra Day O’Connor U.S. Courthouse in downtown Phoenix.
Authorities have also taken a 16-year-old tribal member into federal custody in connection with the case. Due to federal privacy laws concerning juveniles, officials declined to comment further on the teenager’s status or potential charges.
The incident began around 2 a.m. on June 1 when Officer Briese, 23, and another officer responded to a disturbance call involving a large crowd, reportedly gathered for a birthday party. Multiple gunshots were fired, striking both officers and others at the scene.
Briese and the second officer were rushed to the hospital, where Briese later succumbed to his injuries. The other officer remains in serious but stable condition.
Alicen Apkaw, 23, also died in the shooting, and three additional individuals sustained injuries.
The FBI and Gila River Police Department arrested Notah and the teenage suspect the following day, though it remains unclear why the indictment against Notah took several months to formalize.
Officer Joshua Briese joined the Gila River Police Department less than a year before his death and was still in field training. His service followed in the footsteps of his father, David Briese, a Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Officer who also died in the line of duty in 2006.
Joshua previously worked with the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, beginning in 2021. After graduating from the Correctional Officer Training Academy, he served at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Phoenix until his resignation in mid-2022.
The case highlights the profound risks faced by law enforcement and the enduring sacrifices made by officers and their families.