TOHAJIILEE, N.M. — Earlier today, an officer-involved shooting occurred in the community of Tohajiilee, N.M., involving two officers from the Navajo Nation Police Department.
According to reports, officers responded to a call near the Navajo Housing Authority at approximately 11:50 a.m. after reports of individuals shooting in the area.
As a precaution, a shelter-in-place was issued for the Tohajiilee community while law enforcement responded to the situation.
Two Navajo Nation police officers were transported to Albuquerque for medical treatment and are currently reported to be in stable condition.
I am grateful to hear that both officers are receiving care and are in stable condition. Our Navajo Nation police officers put themselves in harms way every day to protect our communities, and today’s incident is a reminder of the risks they face while serving our people.
I ask the Navajo Nation to keep these officers and their families in your thoughts and prayers as they recover. Our prayers are with them, their fellow officers, and the entire law enforcement community during this difficult time.
I also want to express appreciation to the partnering agencies who responded quickly to assist, including the New Mexico State Police, Laguna Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
At this time, there are no reports of additional injuries and no ongoing threat to the community. The Navajo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Albuquerque Field Office, and the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigation are conducting a joint investigation. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and share updates as more information becomes available.
Please continue to keep our officers and the Tohajiilee community in your prayers.
— Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren
