⏱ 2 min read
A brutal and unprovoked stabbing occurred in Shiprock, New Mexico, on April 19, 2025, when Matthew David Charley, a 30-year-old enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, attacked a man without warning. The victim, who had no prior interaction with Charley, was stabbed three times in the back near a roadside area. Charley initially denied the assault but later admitted to being present at the scene after being confronted with surveillance footage.
The attack left the victim with lacerations to his upper back and flank, requiring emergency medical treatment. Charley fled the scene but was later caught and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. He pleaded guilty to the crime and was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison.
The investigation was led by the Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon prosecuted the case, which was announced by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office.
Upon his release from prison, Charley will be subject to three years of supervised release. The case highlights the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in bringing violent offenders to justice.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: New Mexico
- Location: NM
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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