On the evening of Christmas Eve in 2015, a tragedy unfolded outside the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in Chandler, Arizona, that ended the life of Frank Pascua, a 52-year-old Filipino American man. A retired police officer from Bakersfield, California, Pascua’s instincts to protect and serve remained sharp, even in his civilian life. That night, those very instincts brought him face to face with a dangerous man in the casino's parking lot.
The series of events began when police
received calls about a suspicious person with a gun at the location. Pascua, witnessing a crime in progress, did not hesitate to intervene. He confronted a man who was attempting to steal a car, an act of bravery that would ultimately cost him his life. During the confrontation, the suspect shot Pascua multiple times. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. The man who spent his life upholding the law died trying to stop a crime.
In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement began a thorough investigation to bring the person responsible to justice. An initial person of interest, a 25-year-old man, was detained and his picture circulated, but he was soon cleared of any involvement and released. The focus of the investigation then shifted to another individual, 47-year-old John Albert Campos Sr., who was identified as the shooter. Authorities believe that Pascua and Campos did not know each other prior to the fatal encounter.
Following the identification of Campos as the primary suspect, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest, and the Gila River Police Department, with the assistance of the FBI, launched a search for him. Campos, who has a history of violent crime, was considered armed and dangerous. In the days following the shooting, he remained at large, having successfully fled the scene after allegedly hijacking another vehicle, though the driver of that car was left unharmed. The search for John Albert Campos Sr. continued as a community mourned the loss of a man described as a hero who gave his life to protect others.
