⏱ 2 min read
A brutal stabbing on the Zuni Pueblo left one victim fighting for their life after a night of drinking turned violent. On June 14, 2026, Zachary Booqua, 18, and his mother, Kayla Marie Concho, 36, allegedly assaulted two people, identified as Jane Doe and John Doe, at a residence on the Zuni Pueblo. The argument escalated when Booqua knocked John Doe unconscious and began punching him, and when Jane Doe tried to intervene, both Booqua and Concho turned on her.
Booqua then stabbed John Doe, leaving him with life-threatening injuries. The FBI’s Gallup Resident Agency and the Zuni Police Department investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky. Booqua and Concho are charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in prison. The case was announced by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office. The incident highlights the violent consequences of alcohol-fueled disputes and the importance of swift law enforcement action.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of federal and local authorities to combating violent crime in New Mexico’s tribal communities.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: New Mexico
- Location: NM
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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