⏱ 2 min read
Desirae Smith, a 26-year-old enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly unleashed a brutal attack on a victim with a metal pipe in Shiprock, New Mexico, on July 28, 2026. The altercation, which followed an argument among several individuals who had been drinking, left the victim with serious head injuries. Smith allegedly struck the victim multiple times with the pipe, including blows to the head and arm, and even attempted to drop a rock on the victim’s head.
Witnesses reported the assault to law enforcement, who responded to the scene and recovered a metal pipe with blood on it. The victim was transported to the hospital with two large lacerations to the top of her head, requiring approximately nine staples. Smith denied the allegations, claiming the victim’s injuries resulted from falling and hitting a truck during the altercation.
Smith is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The case was investigated by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations.
The FBI and Navajo Nation authorities worked together to bring Smith to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Peco will prosecute the case, which has not yet been scheduled for trial. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, Justin A. Garris, announced the charges.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: New Mexico
- Location: NM
- Source: DOJ Press Release
