Apache Junction Police Department Announces Procession and Funeral Plans to Honor Officer Gabriel Facio

Apache Junction Police Officer Gabriel Facio will be honored in a public procession and funeral on June 16. The ceremony follows his tragic passing on June 8, six days after sustaining serious injuries in a shooting while responding to a weapons complaint.

Officer Facio was shot in the face on June 2 while engaging with a suspect, later identified as 37-year-old Roger Nunez. The confrontation occurred near Ironwood Drive and Elliot Road. Nunez fired from an unregistered ghost gun, injuring both himself and Facio. Officer Facio succumbed to his wounds days later.

He is survived by his wife and two children, underlining the emotional impact of this incident on the local community.

The public procession begins at 7:45 a.m. outside the Apache Junction Police Department located at 1001 N Idaho Road. It will proceed west on Superstition Boulevard, transitioning to University Drive, then north to Mountain View Funeral Home in Mesa, set to arrive by 8:30 a.m.

Other law enforcement agencies are expected to join the procession at the funeral home, which departs at 9 a.m., preceding Facio’s funeral service at Central Christian Church at 10 a.m. This service will take place at 933 N Lindsay Road.

Attendees are encouraged to honor Officer Facio by lining the sidewalks along the procession route. The funeral will also be live-streamed on AJPD’s YouTube channel.

In support of his family, a GoFundMe has been established, alongside a donation page from the Mesa FOP Lodge 9 Charity Foundation. Donations are welcomed as the community rallies around Officer Facio’s loved ones.

The Apache Junction Police Department expresses gratitude for the community’s support during this difficult time. Seating at the funeral will be limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with designated spots for uniformed personnel.