The following information has been updated on a shooting that occurred North of Payson near the Rim Trail subdivision in the Tonto National Forest.

On September 30, 2023 at approximately 4:30 A.M., the Gila County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a female that reported hearing gun shots and was heading towards Payson with a female who had come running out of the woods. The initial call reported that there could be several people involved. Law enforcement officers from the Gila County Sheriff’s Office, the Payson Police Department, and the Tonto Apache Police Department responded to the area to investigate the incident.

While law enforcement officers were interviewing the reporting party, other law enforcement officers responded to the scene of the camp where it is believed the incident occurred. Upon arrival, one subject was taken into custody, and they found another male subject deceased at the scene. A search was then conducted in the surrounding area to confirm there were no others involved.

The victim was identified as 27 year old Michael Glover from Scottsdale. The suspect 27 year old Zachary Michael Dillabough also from Scottsdale was booked into the Gila County Jail on the charges of second degree murder.

Sheriff Shepherd would like to thank the Payson Police Department, Tonto Apache Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, United States Forest Service Law Enforcement, and the Payson Fire Department for their assistance in the response.   back...