Anthony Sandoval, a resident of Little Water and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty on Apr. 28 to assault with a dangerous weapon for shooting another man during an altercation in July 2024.
The case is significant because it involves violence within the Navajo Nation community and highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address violent crime in tribal areas.
According to court documents, Sandoval, age 41, and John Doe were both intoxicated when they began arguing on July 29, 2024. During the dispute, Sandoval shot John Doe. Afterward, Sandoval called for help and admitted his actions before fleeing the scene and hiding the firearm. He was apprehended later that night by law enforcement officers who also recovered the weapon. John Doe was hospitalized and required surgery due to injuries from the shooting.
Sandoval now faces up to ten years in prison at sentencing after pleading guilty. The announcement was made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI's Albuquerque Field Office with support from both the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting this case.
As federal authorities continue their work on violent crime cases within tribal lands, observers will be watching closely as sentencing approaches.
