Albuquerque Man Charged with Voluntary Manslaughter
In a shocking turn of events, 19-year-old Cole Ray Shorty of Tohajilee, New Mexico, has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. The crime took place on May 27, 2022, when Shorty approached the home of his acquaintance in an attempt to retrieve a stolen backpack. Things took a deadly turn when the victim, armed with a baseball bat and a knife, got out of his car and a struggle ensued.
According to the plea agreement, Shorty admitted to picking up the baseball bat and hitting the victim in the head, leaving him unconscious on the ground. The Office of the Medical Examiner’s report confirmed that the cause of death was blunt head trauma.
Shorty, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. As part of his plea agreement, he faces up to 15 years in prison. His co-defendant, Keon Apachito, remains in custody pending trial, scheduled for June 10, 2024.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany DuChaussee, Meg Tomlinson, and Mark Probasco are prosecuting the case.
This is a developing story, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the victim.
Mandatory Facts: Defendant: Cole Ray Shorty; Crime: Voluntary Manslaughter; City and State: Albuquerque, New Mexico; Exact Date: May 27, 2022; Sentence or Outcome: Up to 15 years in prison pending sentencing.
Related Federal Cases
- Nochise Martinez, Voluntary Manslaughter, New Mexico 2023 · New Mexico
- Rob Begay, Involuntary Manslaughter, New Mexico 2023 · New Mexico
- Tracey Beaver, Involuntary Manslaughter, New Mexico 2016 · Puerto Rico
- Darold Ray ZunieFeathers, Involuntary Manslaughter, NM 2015 · New Mexico
- Terrell Ray Antonio, Vehicular Assault, New Mexico 2016 · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
