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Person of interest arrested in shooting near Elva Drive

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Amber Yazzie was taken into custody without incident early on the morning of Dec. 10 after police had been looking for her for a week in connection with a shooting near the 1400 block of Elva Drive, which took the life of 50-year-old Russell Shack of Gallup on Dec. 3.

Gallup Police responded to an emergency call of shots fired at 10:09 am and found Shack injured at the scene. He was taken to a local hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.

Police had been looking for 27-year-old Amber Yazzie of Gallup as a person of interest in the case, responding to tips and making checks on the Navajo reservation.

Yazzie, who is described as 5'2" tall, weighs about 138 lbs with a tattoo on her face, was arrested Dec. 10 on charges of murder in first degree, armed robbery, four counts of aggravated assault, use of a deadly weapon, and shooting at an inhabited dwelling or occupied building.

Together those charges include a capital felony, a second degree felony, and two fourth degree felonies.

The Gallup Police Patrol Division and Gallup Narcotics Agents located Yazzie in Gallup at 3:21 am, where she attempted to evade arrest by driving away. The Gallup Police with the assistance of the Navajo Nation Police Department and the McKinley County Sheriff's Department eventually stopped and arrested Yazzie on the Navajo reservation north of Gallup.

Yazzie was later turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is currently facing federal charges.

The Gallup Police Department worked jointly with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to charge Yazzie federally, as well as with state criminal charges.


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