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Defendant Pleads Guilty to Deadly Shooting on Navajo Nation
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – A Standing Rock man charged by federal prosecutors for the fatal shooting of a woman during a confrontation at his home pleaded guilty today to involuntary manslaughter and assault with a dangerous weapon.
Sonny Hannah, 75, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was confronted by Jane Doe 1 outside his residence on the Navajo Nation on December 30, 2023, because her car had been broken into while it was parked behind his residence.
Hannah became defensive and threatened Jane Doe 1. Jane Doe 1 walked away and returned to her car. A short time later, Hannah exited his house with a rifle and threatened to shoot Jane Doe 1 if she did not leave. When she did not leave, Hannah fired his gun twice in Jane Doe’s direction from 20 to 35 feet away.
Hannah said he intended to shoot above Jane Doe 1’s head to scare her, but at least one gunshot struck and killed her. In his plea agreement, Hannah acknowledged it was unreasonable to shoot in Jane Doe 1’s direction and that he did so without due caution and circumspection, causing her death.
Additionally, Hannah admitted that immediately after shooting Jane Doe 1, while still holding the gun, he physically motioned towards her children to leave. This action gave Jane Doe 2 reasonable fear that Hannah intended to do bodily harm to her with the rifle.
Hannah will remain in a halfway house pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Hannah faces up to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Hannah must also forfeit the rifle used in the crimes.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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