Hanson Tsosie, Fatal Shooting, New Mexico 2021

A deadly shooting on the Navajo Nation left two women fighting for their lives, but ultimately, only one survived. Hanson Tsosie, a 34-year-old Farmington man and enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the shooting.

According to court documents, Tsosie used a 12-gauge shotgun to fire multiple rounds into a group of individuals gathered around a tree in the yard of a residence near Nenahnezad, New Mexico, on September 5, 2021. The shooting killed one woman and seriously injured another. Neither woman posed any threat to Tsosie; they were simply innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire of his violent actions.

The shooting sent shockwaves through the community, and authorities were quick to respond. Tsosie fled approximately 46.1 miles to dispose of the vehicle he had been driving. His actions led to a massive manhunt, but eventually, he was apprehended and brought to justice.

The case was investigated by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark A. Probasco and Matthew J. McGinley are prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

Tsosie will spend 25 years behind bars for his crimes, but his sentence doesn’t end there. Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to five years of supervised release. This harsh sentence serves as a reminder that violence will not be tolerated in our communities.

The tragedy of this case should serve as a wake-up call for all of us. We must work together to prevent senseless violence and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The people of New Mexico deserve nothing less.

The case is a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of violence. Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the victims, and we hope that this sentence brings them some measure of closure.

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