Eric Bowannie, Armed Standoff and Shootout with Law Enforcement, New Mexico 2024

A 28-year-old Zuni Pueblo man has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after engaging in an armed standoff and shootout with law enforcement officials.

Eric Bowannie, 28, received a 12-year prison sentence for his role in the July 6, 2024, incident in Zuni, New Mexico.

According to court documents, law enforcement responded to a disturbance at a residence in Zuni where Bowannie barricaded himself inside his home and fired multiple rounds at responding Zuni Police Department officers.

During the incident, Bowannie charged an officer with an ax, retrieved a shotgun and a rifle, and repeatedly fired at officers positioned outside the residence. FBI agents arrived on scene and also came under fire as they attempted to negotiate a peaceful surrender.

After a prolonged standoff and multiple exchanges of gunfire, Bowannie attempted to flee the area but was apprehended by local law enforcement without further incident. A subsequent search of the property recovered 57 spent casings and five spent shotgun shells.

Bowannie pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and to using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence on November 13, 2024.

Upon his release from prison, Bowannie will be subject to three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/zuni-man-sentenced-armed-standoff-and-shootout-law-enforcement