Nicholas Pinto, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Discharging a Firearm, New Mexico 2022

Albuquerque, New Mexico - In a shocking turn of events, 24-year-old Nicholas Pinto, a resident of Zuni, New Mexico, has pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence in Indian Country.

According to the plea agreement, on September 18, 2022, Pinto started an argument with another guest at the home of the victim, identified as [name withheld], at which point [name withheld] asked him to leave. As Pinto left the residence, he told [name withheld] that he would be 'coming back.'

Pinto returned to [name withheld]'s house later that day with a sawed-off shotgun and knocked on the front door. When [name withheld] answered, Pinto fired the shotgun at [name withheld] with the intent to cause great bodily harm, striking [name withheld] in the right leg. As [name withheld] was laying on the ground, Pinto racked another shell in the shotgun, pointed the gun at [name withheld], and attempted to fire a second time, but the gun jammed. At that time, Pinto fled the scene and attempted to hide the firearm.

[Name withheld] suffered great bodily harm, including a large 12-inch gunshot wound to the right thigh. The incident occurred on the Zuni Pueblo.

Pinto faces 10 years in prison followed by up to five years of supervised release.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. McGinley is prosecuting the case.

Nicholas Pinto will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/zuni-man-pleads-guilty-firearm-offenses