Police Say BB Gun Led to Officer-Involved Shooting in Apache Junction

iSkyNews and Media February 17, 2026

By Staff Reporter

iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published February 17th, 2026

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Officer-Involved Shooting Under Investigation in Apache Junction; Suspect Identified

An officer-involved shooting is under investigation following an incident Saturday evening in Apache Junction, according to authorities.

The shooting occurred just before 8 p.m. on February 14, 2026, in the 2000 block of West Shiprock. The case is being investigated by Mesa Police Department detectives as part of the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team (EVCIRT), which handles officer-involved incidents across the region.

Investigators have identified the suspect as 69-year-old Charles Back. Preliminary findings indicate that Back was in possession of a Sig Sauer BB gun during the encounter. Authorities say Back raised the weapon toward officers, at which point the officer-involved shooting occurred.

A stock photograph of the recovered BB gun was provided to investigators. Officials have not released additional details about injuries or the circumstances leading up to the confrontation.

The investigation remains ongoing, and further updates will be released as more information becomes available.

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