KGLP Slide Show

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Navajo President Shelly Assures Navajo Safety

Navajo President Shelly Assures Navajo Safety

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly said he assures Navajo
people and surrounding communities that the Navajo Nation is safe.

"We are doing everything we can to ensure that all our residents are safe
right now," said President Shelly in response to shootings in the Gallup area
last night.

"We are actively investigating the Fire Rock shooting and robbery," said John
Billison, division of public safety director.

Shootings reported at Tohatchi, Newcomb and Mexican Water are all false,
Billison said.

"The Navajo police will partner will necessary law enforcement agencies to
assure that all people involved in these crimes are held responsible,"
Billison said.

President Shelly agreed with Billison.

"We are going to work together to assure the safety of our people. The Navajo
Nation's thoughts and prayers are with the victims of these crimes, and we
will do out part to make sure these criminals are held responsible for their
actions," President Shelly said.

According to reports, about 7:30 p.m. last night, Gallup police responded to a
call reporting gunshots near the Pinon Hills Apartments near Dairy Drive.

Two people, one victim age 14 and the other victim was in his 40s, were in
critical condition after they were shot near the apartment complex.

Information about the victims is not being released at this time according to
officials.

The individuals were taken to Gallup Indian Medical Center, where one victim
was flown to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque.

According to Navajo Police, the altercation that started at Pinon Hills
Apartments continued at the Gallup Indian Medical Center and another person
was shot about 8:30 p.m.

The assailants fled the scene in a car, but was stopped shortly afterward near
the Gallup UNM campus, where the driver, unknown age, surrendered himself to
the McKinley County Sherriff's Deputies.

While deputies were arresting the individual, the teenage passenger drove off
and led deputies and Navajo police on a chase south of Gallup on Highway 602.

The teenage driver then turned on a dirt road near milepost 20, where Navajo
police apprehended the teen after he wrecked his car and fled on foot.

Around 9 p.m., law enforcement agents responded to a separate call from a gas
station near I-40.

A victim reported that a man with a BB gun attempted to rob a customer of the
gas station.

While police responded to that call, about 9:15 a report about shots fired at
Fire Rock Casino.

According to a Navajo Police report, a male, age unknown, attempted to rob a
man and his wife.

The robber approached the man and asked for money. When the victim said he
didn't have any money, the robber then shot him in the face with a BB gun. The
victim then covered his wife to protect her, while the robber shot 10 bb's
breaking the passenger window of the car.

Fire Rock Casino was locked down until shortly after midnight, while
investigators cleared the area.

"We believe the BB gun shootings and the earlier shootings at Pinon Hills
Apartment Complex and GIMC are unrelated. However, we believe the incident's
involving the BB gun are related," Billison said.

People with information about the shootings are asked to call the Navajo
police at             (928) 871-6112       or             (505) 786-2050      .

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