By Jon Johnson/Gila Herald
SAN JOSE — A report of gunfire near the Gila River sparked a multi-agency response last Friday afternoon, though deputies ultimately determined that individuals in the area were target shooting safely into a riverbank.
According to a Graham County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies were dispatched on Friday, Sept. 18, at about 4:12 p.m. to the area of East Old Sanchez Road and East Sanchez Road after a 911 call reported a weapons offense.
The caller told dispatchers he was conducting contracted field work down an embankment near the river for Freeport McMoRan when he heard three to four gunshots fly past his head. He said he and a co-worker took shelter behind a Can-Am utility vehicle and a white Chevy truck while maintaining contact with emergency operators.
Using GPS coordinates provided during the call, a responding deputy determined the gunfire likely came from the direction of the San Jose Diversion Dam, located southwest of the workers’ position.
Upon arriving at the diversion dam around 4:29 p.m., the deputy located two vehicles, a go-kart, and a male subject who was target shooting pistols with a juvenile. The man told the deputy they were shooting directly into the riverbank and were unaware anyone was across the river. The deputy instructed them to ensure all rounds were directed safely into the berm before clearing the scene.
Deputies later met with the contract employee and his field team near Sanchez Road to confirm their safety. A worker stated he believed the initial shots flew close to his right ear while he was standing near the tailgate of his truck, though he acknowledged that the shooters may have been target shooting and were likely unaware of his location across the riverbed.
A subsequent mapping measurement conducted by the Sheriff’s Office showed the distance between where the group was target shooting and where the field work team was positioned was approximately 411 yards (1,235 feet).
Deputies found no evidence of intentional gunfire toward the workers, and no injuries or property damage were reported. While a ricochet or stray fragment could not be entirely ruled out, authorities concluded the incident involved lawful recreational shooting in the riverbed.
