On Tuesday, Governor Doug Ducey ordered flags at all state buildings be lowered to half-staff until sunset tomorrow, October 6, 2021, to honor Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Group Supervisor Michael G. Garbo, who was killed in the line of duty yesterday.
Group Supervisor Mike Garbo was shot and killed while he and other regional task force members conducted an inspection of an Amtrak train at the Amtrak Station in Tucson, Arizona.
He and other task force members boarded the train, which was traveling from Los Angeles, California, to New Orleans, Louisiana, to conduct an inspection for narcotics. They had detained one subject and were escorting him from the train when another man opened fire on them, fatally wounding Group Supervisor Garbo and another DEA agent. The subject then wounded another task force officer as the two exchanged fire.
The subject was later found dead inside of one of the train’s bathrooms.
Group Supervisor Garbo was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Group Supervisor Garbo had served with the Drug Enforcement Administration for 16 years and had previously served with the Metro Nashville Police Department in Tennessee.
Garbo joined the DEA in 2005 and served for more than 16 years combatting drug trafficking from Nogales, Arizona to Kabul, Afghanistan as a Special Agent and Group Supervisor. He was recognized for his expertise, leadership and mentorship of his colleagues and as a devoted father and husband.
“My thoughts and prayers are with Group Supervisor Michael Garbo’s family, friends and colleagues. The senseless act of violence that took place in Tucson yesterday is a tragedy for our state,” said Ducey in a press release.
“Every day, law enforcement personnel put their lives on the line to keep Arizona and our nation safe,” continued Ducey. “Group Supervisor Garbo died serving others in that heroic duty. He dedicated his career to protecting our communities from the trafficking of illegal drugs and the crime that accompanies them. He will be remembered for his exceptional service and the deep impact he had on all those who worked with him.”