Ariz. Police Officer Dies Nearly Week after Shooting During Traffic Stop

An Arizona police officer died Sunday from injuries he suffered when he was nearly a week ago during a traffic stop.

Apache Junction Police Officer Gabriel Facio had responded to a June 2 call involving a driver wielding a gun, The Arizona Republic reports. A gun battle erupted when Facio confronted the suspect, and both were wounded in the exchange.

"A little piece of us was lost as Officer Facio took his last breath surrounded by family and friends," Chief Michael Pooley said during a Sunday news conference. "He was a beloved father, husband, son, brother, friend and police officer who showed his passion for people through his service to others."

Facio, who was originally from Mexico, had been with the department for three years, and he served with the Phoenix Police Department before that. He is the agency's first officer to be killed in the line of duty, and the first officer in Arizona to lose their in the line of duty.