A To’hajiilee man has been charged with federal crimes after allegedly shooting and injuring two Navajo Nation Police Department officers, according to a March 19 announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office.
The case is significant as it involves violence against law enforcement officers responding to reports of gunfire in a tribal community. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about officer safety and public security in the region.
Court records state that on March 6, Russell Secatero, 29, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly fired at officers from inside a closet attached to a residence in To’hajiilee, New Mexico. Officer John Doe was struck in the arm and back, while Officer Jane Doe was injured when a bullet hit her firearm and shrapnel struck her arm. Officer John Doe returned fire during the encounter, wounding Secatero. All three were transported to a hospital for treatment.
Investigators recovered two AR-style rifles and shell casings from the closet where Secatero was found. He faces two counts each of assault with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. Secatero will remain in custody pending trial; no trial date has been set.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office led the investigation with help from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
Authorities emphasized that an indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
