Shiprock Man Held Pending Trial After Allegedly Firing at Federal Officer During Emergency Response

Albuquerque, New Mexico — August 7, 2026 — A Shiprock man has been charged in federal court after allegedly firing a rifle toward a law enforcement officer during an emergency response and striking a patrol vehicle.

Marcus Allen Benally, 41, is charged with assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. He has been ordered to remain in custody while the case is pending.

Benally is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and resides in Shiprock.

According to court documents, Navajo Nation Police responded on July 26 to a report that Benally was threatening a neighbor with a rifle.

Federal prosecutors allege that Benally fired in the direction of a responding officer. The gunfire struck and damaged a patrol vehicle.

The announcement does not report that the officer, the neighbor or any other person suffered physical injuries during the incident.

Benally allegedly fled from the area on foot after the shooting. Authorities apprehended him with the assistance of a police K9.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office did not disclose how long Benally remained at large, whether the rifle was recovered or whether the K9 apprehension resulted in injuries.

The available court information also does not identify the responding officer, describe the extent of the patrol vehicle’s damage or disclose how many rounds were allegedly fired.

Benally faces one count of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. The charge concerns the alleged use of the rifle during the confrontation with the responding officer.

He will remain detained pending trial. A trial date has not been scheduled.

Pretrial detention does not establish guilt. It determines whether a defendant will remain in custody while the criminal case proceeds through federal court.

If convicted, Benally faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The maximum penalty is not an automatic sentence and does not establish the punishment that would be imposed.

Any sentence would be determined by a federal judge after considering the offense of conviction, applicable statutes, Benally’s individual circumstances and the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, special agent in charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced the charge.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky is prosecuting the case for the District of New Mexico.

The criminal complaint contains allegations that have not been proven in court. Marcus Allen Benally is presumed innocent unless and until the government proves his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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