Joshua Black, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, New Mexico 2025

A violent assault in Shiprock, New Mexico, has left two people seriously injured, and the suspect is facing federal charges. Joshua Black, 20, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, is accused of becoming violent during an argument at a home on August 5, 2025.

According to court documents, Black assaulted another man by slamming his head into a fireplace and striking him repeatedly with a shovel and a wooden board. The man sustained life-threatening head injuries and was later airlifted to a local hospital. During the same incident, Black also assaulted a woman, kicking her and taking her mobility aids, and pushed another man to the ground.

During a search of the residence, officers located Black hiding inside a box spring and took him into custody. Investigators recovered bloodied objects at the scene, including a broken shovel, a wooden board, and a crutch.

Black is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison per count.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case as part of Summer Heat, the FBI’s nationwide initiative targeting violent crime during the summer months.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Black will remain in third-party custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. He is currently facing serious charges and a potentially lengthy prison sentence if convicted.

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