ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Brodie Coonsis, 28, of Zuni, N.M., and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, pleaded guilty on Dec. 27 in federal court to second-degree murder in Indian Country.

According to the plea agreement and other court documents, Coonsis shot and killed John Doe on Feb. 26 at John Doe’s residence in Zuni. Coonsis, who had been using drugs and was upset with John Doe, travelled to the victim’s house on the Pueblo of Zuni. After John Doe opened the door, Coonsis fired his shotgun four times as he followed the victim up the stairs, eventually killing him.

Coonsis is currently in custody pending his sentencing, which has not been scheduled. He faces up to life in...

A resident at Sagebrush Apartments, 650 Dani Dr., heard gunshots fired early in the morning on Aug. 23 and called Metro Dispatch.

When Gallup Police Officer Joe Roanhorse arrived, he was told the suspect was headed south on Dani Drive. Other witnesses told Roanhorse the suspect was seen in a local field. Several other officers arrived and began searching the area described.

Another officer met with one of the witnesses, who stated he saw the suspect attempting to burglarize their vehicle and when they confronted them, the suspect pulled a handgun on him.

Officers searched the open park and found fresh foot tracks throughout the park. After a search of over an hour, officers found and...

A call came into Metro Dispatch on Aug. 23 stating someone had pulled a gun on them near Rocket Liquors, 1717 S. Second St. They said two males made threats and one of them appeared highly intoxicated.

A Public Service Officer responded to the calls and advised Gallup Police that both men were in the vicinity.

When he arrived, Officer Daniel Brown, he found one of the suspects, Marc Yazzie, 36, of Gallup, outside BPL Plasma, at 1706 S. Second St. He told Yazzie to get down on the ground and Yazzie complied. Another officer at the scene searched Yazzie and found a 9 mm handgun, but no ammo belts. Brown ran the handgun’s serial number through Metro Dispatch and was told it was...

The McKinley County Sheriff’s Office conducted a sobriety checkpoint on 608 (Flea Market Road) at Highway 491 on Dec. 3. Over 400 cars were checked, two drunk drivers were arrested, two criminal summonses were filed and various other citations were issued.

One driver fled the checkpoint and a short chase began. However, since he had given the deputy his driver’s license before he fled, a warrant will be filed for his arrest.

This checkpoint was funded by a N.M. state grant called “ENDWI” with the purpose of preventing DWIs and raising public awareness.

“The sheriff and I appreciate all the deputies stepping up to protect our communities against drunk driving,” MCSO...