Skip to main content

Navajo Nation policeman, suspect killed in shootout


play
Show Caption

PHOENIX — Navajo Nation police officer was shot and killed after responding to a domestic violence situation in the Four Corners region, according to Navajo authorities say.

The officer, identified as Alex Yazzie, had served in the U.S Marines before joining the Shiprock Police Department, Navajo Nation spokesman Rick Abasta said Friday.

Two other tribal officers were injured during the Thursday shootout.

The suspect, Justin Fowler, 24, led police on a 40-mile chase from New Mexico to Arizona before he was shot and killed, tribal authorities said.

The situation began about 2:15 p.m. when Fowler's brother reported he was beating his wife and mother with a pistol at their home near Little Water Trading Post, authorities said.

Fowler had an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and fired at police, then fled.

At 8:20 p.m., he returned to Little Water and made a U-turn at the mobile police command center in an apparent taunt, according to Navajo authorities.

A chase ensued. Twice Fowler got out of his car and fired the rifle at police, disabling a police vehicle.

Police pursued him and the manhunt ended in Red Valley, Ariz. The town is just west of New Mexico in Apache County.

Police fatally shot Fowler around 10:30 p.m., authorities said.

Officials said Officer Herbert Frazier was shot in the shin and Officer James Hale was shot in the right leg. Hale was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, officials said. Frazier was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Gerald Henderson, who coordinates an emergency response team in the Sanostee Chapter community, which is the largest community near Little Water, said people there are in shock.

Henderson, who spoke in the Navajo language during a telephone interview Friday, said he received 15 calls from residents during Thursday's pursuit.

"We talked to our elders," he said. "We talk to them calmly. So, there is no Yii Yah (A Navajo expression of danger and fear). We told them, if there is a knock on the door, don't open the door. Ask who it is from inside the locked door."

Henderson, a former firefighter, said he has worked with many Navajo law enforcement officer, including Yazzie.

He said he and Yazzie had talked about plans to chop and haul wood.

"There's so much emotion," Henderson said as his voice cracked. "He was a friend. I just got to know him. We treated each other like brothers. I worked with him. I shed tears this morning. I asked, 'How could this happen? What happened to the Navajo society? Our children?' "

He added, "It appears they no longer respect authority. It hurts and I'm still asking, what caused this."

Henderson said Yazzie loved his job. "He was a good guy."

Cherilynn Bennally, who identified herself as Fowler's cousin, was clearly shaken.

"We are so sorry for what happened. We offer our condolences to the officers and their families," she said.

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly and other leaders offered condolences as well. Shelly ordered all Navajo Nation flags flown at half-staff through the weekend.

"The family will be in our prayers," Shelly said.

Said Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey: "I'm deeply saddened to learn that Navajo Nation Police Officer Alex Yazzie was shot and killed in the line of duty Thursday night."

Flags on state government buildings will be lowered to half-staff Saturday in Yazzie's honor, Ducey said.

According to information obtained by The Navajo Times, Fowler was familiar with weapons and posted pictures of his weapons on his Facebook page. Fowler posted an illustration of a child holding a gun on March 16 with a comment stating he would give his AR-15 to his kids when he got older.

The last Navajo Nation officer shot in the line of duty reported by the Arizona Republic was in 2011. Sgt. Darrell Curley, 48, was responding to reports of a fight at a home in Kaibeto when he was shot.

In 1987, two Navajo officers were killed in a drug-related incident, their bodies found burned in a truck. Roy Lee Stanely, 27, and Andy Begay, 36, were found in a remote area on the Navajo reservation near the Arizona-Utah border.

Contributing: Betty Reid of The Republic