San Juan County Gun Violence | New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence

On July 23, 2022 in Farmington, New Mexico, a police officer was injured during a confrontation with the suspect of a possible DWI. Officer Waylon Wasson was on patrol when he identified and pursued what appeared to be a drunk driver. The suspect, Ladarius Tinhorn, pulled into a dead end and failed to comply to Wasson’s orders to exit the vehicle. Tinhorn instead drove into the officer, nearly pinning him to the patrol car. Wasson then opened fire, but did not strike the suspect. https://bit.ly/3yP7k8W
On July 23, 2022 in Farmington, New Mexico, an unidentified victim was shot and killed at a shopping center around 6:30 p.m., near Plaza Ctr. and East Main Street. No details have been released. https://bit.ly/3geWEd7
On April 20, 2022 in Farmington, New Mexico, a physical altercation at a home near Randolph Avenue turned fatal. Scott Reid (56) reported the shooting to police, alleging that he, Darian Hoffman (26) and the victim Zachary Reid (20) got into an argument which led Hoffman to reveal a gun. He shot Reid, who later died of his injuries. https://bit.ly/3PMZe77
On January 26, 2022, in Farmington, New Mexico, Deondre Badonie (19) was arrested for shooting another young male and assaulting police officers. The shooting occurred near Butler and Orchard Homes Drive following an argument between Badonie and the victim, who was his alleged partner in crime. Upon his arrest, Badonie allegedly became “belligerent” spitting on and headbutting the officers. https://bit.ly/3tGr9Mj
On January 8, 2022 in Farmington, New Mexico, police officer Joseph Barreto (25) was shot and wounded by Elias Buck (22). Barreto identified Buck as the suspect of an earlier DWI incident, who in the company of another unnamed woman, shot at the officer when he approached the pair. https://bit.ly/3sUsxMj
On November 27, 2021 in Farmington, New Mexico, an unidentified person was shot and injured at Westland Park. The person was transported to the hospital in unknown condition, and the park has since been closed to the public while police conduct an investigation. https://bit.ly/32Mfx0J
On October 1, 2021 in Farmington, New Mexico, police charged two 15-year-old students for allegedly planning a school shooting at Farmington High School. https://bit.ly/3GbrD1o
On July 14, 2021 in Farmington, New Mexico, San Juan County Deputies killed Shawn Thomas who was allegedly brandishing a firearm at a gas station. A pursuit took place. Deputies fired at his car and it rolled over and caught on fire. Thomas had a long criminal history including firing at a family in Farmington, New Mexico in June 2021. https://bit.ly/30cN02U
On June 27, 2021 in Farmington, New Mexico, the Farmington Police were dispatched to a shooting at the Safeway Gas Station on East Main Street. Both the victim and the suspect fled the scene. https://bit.ly/3x12BNy
On June 9, 2021 in Farmington, New Mexico, police released a video of an officer-involved shooting that left one man injured. The man had allegedly pointed a firearm at the officers. The incident began when officers received numerous 911 calls of a man shooting a handgun in downtown Farmington. Brian Benally (29) was shot and injured by police. He is facing multiple charges including being a felon in possession of a firearm. https://bit.ly/3yzu5uD
On October 5, 2020 in Farmington, New Mexico, a teen was sentenced to two years in a juvenile detention center for fatally shooting 16-year-old Elijah Chavez. Chavez was shot in the torso and died in his bed. https://bit.ly/3p701D4
On September 27, 2020, Jack Pryor was arrested for shooting rounds of ammunition from his front and back porch on Farmington St. No one was injured. https://bit.ly/358zFYc
On September 9, 2020, Joshua Watkins, 35, was accused of pistol whipping a man and discharging a firearm into an apartment. https://bit.ly/2T8UvRE
On August 31, 2020, 4 miles southwest of Aztec, New Mexico, there was an officer involved shooting of a robbery suspect. The suspect succumbed to his injuries. https://bit.ly/3kbs3ua
On August 20, 2020, in Farmington, N.M., Joh Davidson,45, was accused for murder in connection to the shooting of Justin Tapaha, 45. https://bit.ly/345rmgj
On August 24, 2020 James Salgado, 34, was accused of shooting a man five times at a Speedway gas station in Farmington. The man was transported to San Juan Regional Medical Center and was listed in critical condition. https://bit.ly/2IxrXz4
On August 2, 2020, Mistie Smith, 46, was accused of 3rd degree felony and 4th degree felony charges for stealing a firearm and $10,000.00 in cash. https://bit.ly/31gFaTk
On July 28, 2020, Brandon Miller, 56, is facing 3rd degree felony charges of child abuse along with two 4th degree felony charges of aggravated assault after grabbing a handgun during a domestic fight and pointing the gun at the head of a 3 year old for refusing to eat his breakfast. https://bit.ly/3lRpldW
March 27, 2020 – Ronald Long, 40, is accused of shooting in the head Michael Gagnebin, 56, to death. SOURCE: Farmington Daily News, March 27, 2020
On October 10, 2019 in Farmington, New Mexico, Norbert Beyer, age 58, was shot and killed in an officer involved shooting. Officers ere dispatched to reports of a man threatening people with a gun. The policeman was placed on administrative leave following the shooting. SOURCE: FARMINGTON DAILY TIMES
On September 7, 2019 in Farmington, New Mexico, Curtis Crosby, age 33, was accused of discharging his handgun in a Farmington neighborhood, damaging a vehicle and a nearby residence. SOURCE: FARMINGTON DAILY TIMES
On April 4, 2019, in Farmington, New Mexico, Tara Johnson, Derrick Bia, and Miranda Ben are accused of two, second-degree felony counts of armed robbery. They have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery at the Journey Inn. Source: Farmington Daily Times
On April 1, 2019, in Farmington, New Mexico, Fernando Azofeifa was accused of killing his five-year-old son. The incident happened after Azofeifa pointed a rifle at a man who was present during a custody exchange of the child between Azofeifa and the boy’s mother. The boy was found dead inside his father’s apartment. The cause has not yet been released. Azofeifa admitted to killing his son. Source: KOB4
On March 5, 2019, in Farmington, New Mexico, Isaiah Ontiveros, age 18, was charged with shooting and killing Nathaniel Tracy, age 31, during an altercation. Source: Farmington Daily News
On January 24, 2019, in Naschitti, New Mexico, Navajo Nation authorities say one person is dead following a shooting involving police officers. No officers were injured. The incident is being investigated by the Navajo Division of Public Safety and the FBI. Source: Associated Press
On October 26, 2018, in Farmington, New Mexico, authorities say three teens suffered minor injuries in a shooting at a park. The park is located near a stadium where a high school football game was in progress. The police said two teenage boys were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and a third teenage boy with minor injuries was treated and released at the scene. Source: Santa Fe New Mexican
On August 1, 2018, in Farmington, New Mexico, police are investigating the fatal shooting of Francine Delgado, 24 years old, who died at the hospital after being dropped off there. A second woman, Rebecca Jacquez, 28, was also dropped off with gunshot wounds. Source: Associated Press
On December 7, 2017, in Aztec, New Mexico, Casey Marquez and Francisco Fernandez, students at Aztec High School were killed when a gunman opened fire at the school. The shooter was identified as William Atchison, 21 years old. After killing the two students, he fired multiple rounds into classrooms before shooting and killing himself. He pretended to be a student and entered the school as teenagers went into the building after getting out of buses. Source: KOB4 News
On October 4, 2017, in Farmington, New Mexico, Marquez was carjacked at gunpoint while she was waiting for her granddaughter at the Animas Valley Mall. A man approached the car and told her to get out of the car. He pulled a gun. She got out of the car and flagged down a UPS driver and called the police. Source: KOB4 News
On February 11, 2017, on the Navajo Nation in northwestern New Mexico, a shooting occurred in a sparsely populated area about 20 miles south of Farmington, New Mexico. The FBI said one man is dead but no officers were injured in the shooting involving tribal police. New Mexico state police and San Juan County sheriff’s office are assisting the FBI and tribal police in investigating the incident. Source: Santa Fe New Mexican
On September 4, 2016, in Farmington, New Mexico, a Farmington couple was found dead in an apparent murder-suicide. The victim, 75-year-old Mary Bennett, was shot by her husband, 85-year-old Bill Bennett, who then shot himself. Source: Daily Times
On March 19, 2016, in San Juan County, New Mexico, authorities say a man shot himself in the face during a traffic stop and then pointed a gun at a deputy. He was taken into custody and is being investigated for DWI and aggravated assault of a police officer. Source: Albuquerque Journal
On February 8, 2016, in San Juan County, New Mexico, U.S. Marshals and Albuquerque and Farmington Police arrested 28-year-old Raul Dominguez Lopez, Jr. Lopez is charged with attempted murder, aggravated burglary and felony possession of a firearm. This was in connection to a shooting that took place at the Mesa Village Apartments in Farmington. Source: KRQE News
On February 12, 2015, in Farmington, New Mexico, a 17-year-old boy shot himself in the hand at the Roadway Inn. He was charged with negligent use of a firearm, unlawful possession of a handgun and tampering with evidence. Source: The Daily Times
On January 16, 2015, in Farmington, New Mexico, a 6-year-old girl shot her 8-year-old sister with a loaded rifle after her father asked her to move the weapon to another space. Source: The Daily Times
On April 4, 2015, in Farmington, New Mexico, a 13-year-old boy was accidentally shot in the stomach by his 26-year-old brother during a family camping trip. The brother was showing off his 40-caliber handgun to his family when it discharged. No decision had been made about possible charges of the negligent use of a weapon or child abuse. The boy was airlifted to UNM hospital. Source: The Daily Times
On July 29, 2013, in Farmington, New Mexico, 40-year-old Christopher Valdez was shot and killed and 3 others were wounded in a shoot-out on the streets of Farmington. Mr. Valdez is believed to have been an innocent bystander. Source: Albuquerque Journal
On April 26, 2013, in Farmington, New Mexico, 25-year-old Johnny Benjamin Viapando was shot and killed while sitting in a parked car at the Animus Valley Mall. Source: The New York Times

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