A Ramah man was sentenced to nine years in prison for shooting into a vehicle occupied by three people after a near-collision.
The incident occurred on March 18, 2025, when a blue Jeep driven by Leon Garcia, 42, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was involved in a near-miss with a vehicle driven by the defendant.
After the near-miss, the defendant followed Garcia to a residence on the Ramah Navajo Reservation in Cibola County. When the vehicles stopped, Garcia exited his Jeep armed with a rifle, pointed the firearm at the three occupants and fired multiple shots into the vehicle with intent to do bodily harm.
Garcia continued shooting as the victims attempted to turn around and again as they drove away.
Garcia pleaded guilty to three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Upon his release from prison, Garcia will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
Garcia will serve no parole in the federal system.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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