Shiprock Stabbing: Tsosie Faces Federal Assault Charges

SHIPROCK, NM – A seemingly ordinary trip to Bashas Grocery Store turned violent last Sunday, leaving one woman fighting for her life and Tony Tsosie, 56, of Shiprock, facing serious federal charges. The attack, which occurred in the store’s parking lot on August 31, 2025, has shaken the small New Mexico community and prompted a swift response from both Navajo Police and the FBI.

Navajo Police Department officers arrived on the scene to find the victim suffering from multiple, life-threatening stab wounds and rapidly losing blood. Paramedics rushed the woman to a local hospital where she received treatment and, thankfully, survived. The brutality of the attack immediately pointed to a deliberate act of violence, triggering a full investigation.

Witnesses quickly identified Tony Tsosie as the assailant. According to court documents, Tsosie was apprehended nearby, sporting blood on his hands and shoes that matched prints discovered at the crime scene. Despite the mounting evidence, Tsosie allegedly denied any involvement, providing officers with a false identity and claiming he wasn’t carrying a weapon. This blatant attempt at deception only deepened his entanglement in the escalating legal nightmare.

The narrative quickly unraveled as a witness stepped forward, directly contradicting Tsosie’s claims. The witness stated they observed Tsosie repeatedly stabbing the victim following a heated verbal altercation. This testimony, coupled with the physical evidence, paints a damning picture of a premeditated and vicious assault. Tsosie, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, now faces the full weight of federal prosecution.

Tsosie is currently charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. He will remain in federal custody pending trial, the date of which has not yet been set. If convicted on these charges, he faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office jointly announced the charges today, signaling a commitment to bringing violent offenders to justice.

The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, with crucial assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico will handle the prosecution. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.