The Navajo Police Department received a call of a reported armed robbery that occurred at the Chevron gas station in Window Rock Aug. 4. Navajo Police were called after the male suspect walked into the store with a rifle and proceeded to steal items before fleeing in a black Chevy Avalanche.
Responding officers located the suspect’s vehicle driving through a residential area and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The suspect ignored the officers’ attempts and continued to drive on Highway 264 towards Tse Bonito. Metro law enforcement was notified and officers from the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist in the incident.
The suspect, Randall Redhair, 34, of Window Rock, pulled into a car wash in Tse Bonito, where he exited the vehicle with a weapon. Negotiators attempted to get Redhair to surrender, but he refused to comply with the officers’ commands. Redhair threatened to shoot a propane tank and pointed his weapon towards officers during the standoff.
Due to the situation and public safety concerns, traffic on Highway 264 was stopped and businesses and residents in the area were evacuated.
The standoff continued for over two hours as law enforcement officers attempted to get Redhair to surrender. The Navajo Police Department confirms that a single gunshot was discharged toward Redhair, but he was not hit.
At about 7:30 pm after verbal negotiations had failed, MCSO made the determination to apprehend the suspect. There was information the suspect’s rifle was an air rifle and it was wrapped in a blanket.
MCSO deputies approached Redhair utilizing ballistic shields and a K-9. The suspect refused to comply with commands and fired the air rifle in the vicinity of the deputies. The deputies deployed a Taser and successfully hit the subject. The MCSO deputies took the air rifle from Redhair and handcuffed him.
The weapon was recovered and turned over to Navajo Nation Police, and the scene was turned over to them for processing.
Redhair was booked into the McKinley County Adult Detention Center for charges of aggravated assault upon a peace officer.
The Division of Public Safety is currently investigating the robbery. No other information is available at this time.
