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Friday, Mar 29th

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Weekly Police Activity Reports

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SEARCHING FOR SHOOTER

Lupton, March 5

McKinley County Deputy Gavin Panteah was dispatched to the three-mile marker of I-40 along with Deputies Nocona Clark and Frank Villa in reference to a potential shooting. But on the way there, the dispatch location switched to the Yellowhorse Trading Post in Lupton, Ariz.

The deputies arrived and met with the victim, Elias Espinoza, who had sustained a gunshot wound  on the right side of his face. Panteah spoke with the caller at the scene, Antonio Agguire, who told him that he and Espinoza stopped at a nearby gas station. Espinoza left the vehicle to go inside, and Agguire said he heard a gunshot.

While Agguire helped Espinoza to a nearby bench and called 911, he said he saw the shooter leaving and traveling eastbound on I-40 in a black SUV. The ambulance arrived about 4:30 pm to perform aid on Espinoza, who was eventually flown to a hospital in Flagstaff, Ariz. for further care.

The deputies searched the vehicle and found traces of blood among several other items. Agguire later changed his story and said the shooting had actually occurred near the eight-mile marker. After being transported to McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, he was released after giving a statement.

Several sets of footprints were found at the scene at Yellowhorse Trading Post, but no further evidence was recovered.

 

BURNING DUMPSTER

Gallup, Feb. 25

A phone call early in the morning led to Gallup Fire Department and Gallup Police Department being dispatched to a makeshift road near a homeless camp off North Mission on property owned by Gallup Land Partners. The call stated a dumpster from Northwest New Mexico Solid Waste Authority had caught fire.

McKinley County Undersheriff James Maiorano arrived at the scene after 8:20 am and confirmed damage from the fire, including paint damage and warping of the metal panels. The dumpster was estimated to cost about $4,800. Maiorano was advised the dumpster could be repaired and reused.

There are no suspects, but Maiorano said it is believed trespassers from the homeless camp may have been the same perpetrators who lit the dumpster on fire.