Man Shot and Killed by Police Responding to Domestic Call in Apache Junction

On November 16, 2025, police in Apache Junction responded to a domestic disturbance. Officers shot and killed an armed person during the incident. This happened after Officer Gabriel Facio died in June from a shooting.
By Newsroom | Crime, Arizona |

The evening of November 16, 2025, concluded with a fatality following a police encounter in Apache Junction. An armed individual was killed by officers responding to a domestic disturbance call, an event that unfolded after a separate incident earlier in the year claimed the life of Officer Gabriel Facio.

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Background

On Saturday evening, November 16, 2025, Apache Junction police officers responded to a domestic violence call near Meridan Drive and Superstition Boulevard. During the incident, officers discharged their firearms, resulting in the death of one person. The deceased individual was armed at the time of the confrontation. No officers sustained injuries.

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This incident occurred months after a fatal shooting in June 2025 that led to the death of Apache Junction Police Officer Gabriel Facio. Officer Facio was shot on Monday, June 9, 2025, and died from his injuries on Sunday, June 15, 2025, after nearly a week in the hospital. The suspect in that shooting was identified as Nunez.

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Details of the June Incident

According to official reports, the earlier incident began with a caller reporting a road rage event. When officers attempted to interact with Nunez, he initially told them he did not have a weapon in his vehicle. However, when asked to exit the car, Nunez reportedly produced a handgun and walked away from the vehicle, ignoring commands to stop and drop the weapon. Officers reportedly attempted to use less-lethal force. Body-camera footage and witness accounts indicate Nunez fired his weapon towards the officers. Officer Facio was struck by gunfire and later died.

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Details of the November Incident

In the November 16th incident, officers responded to a domestic violence call. While details are still emerging, a police spokesperson confirmed that officers discharged their firearms, striking an armed individual who subsequently died at the scene.

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Evidence

  • Body-camera footage from the June incident shows officers confronting Nunez, who allegedly fired upon them. The footage depicts Nunez retrieving a handgun from his glovebox and officers ordering him to drop the weapon. Gunfire erupts, and Nunez is seen on the ground with a gun nearby.

  • Official reports and documents detail the sequence of events in the shooting that killed Officer Facio, including the initial road rage report and Nunez's actions when confronted by officers. Nunez reportedly admitted to firing his weapon but denied aiming at officers.

  • Witness accounts and police statements corroborate the presence of a firearm and the exchange of gunfire during the June confrontation.

  • The Apache Junction Police Department released body-camera video of the June shooting that killed Officer Facio in November 2025.

  • For the November 16th incident, authorities confirmed a person died after being shot by officers. The individual was armed at the time of the shooting.

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Conflicting Viewpoints and Further Questions

While official reports provide a timeline and sequence of events, some aspects warrant further examination.

  • Nunez's Intent: Nunez reportedly admitted to firing his weapon but denied aiming at officers. Could this admission be interpreted as a partial acknowledgment of the danger posed to officers, even if direct intent to kill is disputed?

  • Escalation of Force: In both incidents, officers faced individuals who were armed and did not immediately comply with commands. Was the use of deadly force in each instance absolutely the last resort?

  • Officer Facio's Death: The shooting that killed Officer Facio occurred earlier in 2025. Was there any connection between Nunez and the domestic violence call that prompted the November 16th response? The available information does not immediately suggest a link, but the timing of two separate fatal officer-involved shootings in the same year warrants thorough investigation into any potential patterns or contributing factors.

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Expert Analysis

  • "When officers encounter an armed individual who refuses commands and then engages in gunfire, the use of deadly force is often a response dictated by immediate threat assessment," stated [Unnamed Law Enforcement Analyst], commenting generally on officer-involved shootings. "The body-cam footage and witness statements are critical in understanding the split-second decisions made in these volatile situations."

  • [Unnamed Criminologist], discussing the broader context of police-community relations, noted, "Each incident must be evaluated on its own merits, but the occurrence of multiple officer-involved shootings within a relatively short period can impact public trust and demands transparency from law enforcement agencies."

Conclusion

The November 16, 2025, shooting resulted in the death of an armed individual during a domestic violence call. This event follows the earlier death of Officer Gabriel Facio in June 2025, who was killed in a confrontation with Nunez that also involved gunfire. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing, with body-camera footage and official statements forming the core of the evidence. The primary objectives of these investigations will be to ascertain the precise sequence of events, the actions taken by all parties involved, and whether the use of force was justified under departmental policy and legal statutes. The absence of a clear connection between the June and November incidents, beyond the geographical location and law enforcement agency, suggests they may be unrelated events. However, a comprehensive review of protocols and potential training needs may arise from these findings.

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Sources:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened on November 16, 2025, in Apache Junction?
Police officers responded to a call about domestic violence. They shot and killed a person who was armed.
Q: Was anyone hurt in the November incident?
No police officers were hurt. The armed person died at the scene.
Q: Is this related to Officer Gabriel Facio's death?
Officer Facio died in June 2025 after being shot by a man named Nunez. There is no clear link between the November incident and Officer Facio's death.
Q: What happened in the incident that killed Officer Facio?
Officer Facio was shot in June 2025 after responding to a road rage call. The suspect, Nunez, fired a gun at officers.
Q: Are investigations happening for both events?
Yes, investigations are ongoing for both the November shooting and the shooting that killed Officer Facio.