Officer Tenney Gatewood Jr., 38 and a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, was shot and killed on December 9, 1999 while on duty near Hawley Lake on the White Mountain Apache reservation. He had nine years of service with the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police and was responding to a reported burglary at a local store when he stopped a vehicle he believed was connected to the crime.

Inside the stopped vehicle were Frank Monte Banashley Sr. and his son, both tribal members. While Officer Gatewood spoke with the elder Banashley, the son exited the vehicle and a struggle took place that forced the officer to the ground. At that point Banashley Sr. fatally shot Officer Gatewood in the head. The father and son fled into nearby woods but were captured about eight hours later. Both were convicted for their roles in Officer Gatewood’s murder; Banashley Sr. pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 42-year sentence, and his son was sentenced to nine years.