Gallup Sun • Friday June 16, 2017

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Pearce describes ‘very traumatic’ scene of shooting at congressional baseball practice By Matthew Reichbach NM Political Report

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teve Pearce, a Republican congressma n from souther n New Mexico, was present at a congressional baseball practice that ended with gunshots as someone opened f i re on t hose practici ng. Pearce described it as “very traumatic.” One congressman, Republican Steve Scalise of Louisiana, was shot and underwent surgery. At least four others were wounded, though none were killed. Scalise is the House Majority Whip. Pearce was unhar med. Pearce even met with students from a Silver City high school after returning from the practice. “When he was at the thirdbase side. I was walking to the first-base side. As I lay out in the parking lot, looking, I saw him walk around the building and could him fire again, probably 30 shots into our group.” The alleged shooter has since been identified by media reports, citing law enforcement sources, shooting as James

DWI REPORTS | FROM PAGE 11 Joshua L. Shirley 3.3.17, 11:59 pm 2nd DWI, Aggravated Patrolling we stbou nd o n Hw y. 66, GPD Officer John Gonzales obser ved a vehicle enter the roadway from Strong Avenue, also heading west. The vehicle swerved from the left lane to the right,

T. Hodgkinson of Illinois. P resident Dona ld T r u mp announced Wednesday morning Hodgkinson died in the hospital after being shot by police officers. Pearce described Scalise as being shot in the hip, and two staffers shot, one in the chest and another in the leg. A Capitol Policeman was shot in the foot, Pearce said. Capitol Police were on hand because of Scalise, who is a member of the Republican leadership. “People were trying to help, they were running for cover. It was, just as you would expect,” Pearce said. “We were dragging the wounded to the side and not knowing exactly where the shooter is made it—i seen him standing there but he was not carrying a gun.” Pearce said the shooter first shot at Trent Kelly first, but missed. Kelly was running and the shooter continued to shoot. Kelly is a Republican from Mississippi. Pe a r c e l a t e r t o ok t o Facebook to describe what happened. Other members of the New Mexico delegation reacted with staying in both lanes before Gonzales activated his emergency lights and pulled the vehicle over at the 2nd Street railroad crossing, whose gates were down. Agreeing to a SFST, Shirley, 28, was transported to the parking lot of the Chamber of Commerce for safety reasons. The testing did not go well for Shirley and he was then transported to the Gallup Police Depa r tment where he blew 0.19 and 0.21 on the Breathalyzer. Shirley was then taken to the MCADC for booking.

Law Office of Barry Klopfer P.C. Barry KIopfer Attorney at Law

Practice Areas: DWI Defense Semi-Truck Accidents Navajo Employment Law 224 W. Coal Ave. Gallup, NM 87301 Klopferlaw.com

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Phone: (505) 722-9331 Fax: (505) 722-9335

Friday June 16, 2017 • Gallup Sun

Congressman Steve Pearce speaking at the Western Republican Leadership Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2011. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore cc shock to the shooting. “It is shocking and troubling news that our colleagues were under attack this morning,” U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Truly sick that someone would turn a firearm on our nation’s leaders. Our thoughts will be with Congressman Scalise, the

Capitol Police and everyone grappling with this appalling attack.” “Jill [Cooper Udall, Tom’s wife] and I are praying for Congressma n Scalise, my colleagues, their staff, and the heroic Capitol Police officers affected by today’s tragic shooting,” U.S. Sen. Tom Udall,

a Democrat, said. “I want to extend my deepest thanks to the brave first responders on the scene, and I join the entire Congress and country in wishing a speedy recovery for all those injured in this horrific event.” Visit: nmpoliticalreport. com

Farmington man sentenced to prison for manslaughter Staff Reports

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LBUQUERQUE – Sage A nd rew Ya z z i e , 21, a n en rol led member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Farmington, N.M., pled guilty in federal court in Albuquerque June 14, to voluntary manslaughter and firearms charges. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Yazzie will be sentenced within the range of 12 to 15 years in prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. Yazzie was arrested on March 10, 2016, on a criminal

complaint charging him with killing a Navajo man on the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan County, N.M., on Feb. 23, 2016. According to the criminal complaint, Yazzie entered a residence and shot the victim in the head with a firearm. Yazzie was indicted on March 23, 2016, and charged with first degree murder and using and carrying a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. According to the indictment, Yazzie committed the offenses on Feb. 23, 2016, in San Juan County. During today’s proceedings, Yazzie pled guilty to a felony information charging him with

voluntary manslaughter and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. In entering the guilty plea, Yazzie admitted that on Feb. 23, 2016, he entered a residence in Huerfano, N.M., and killed the victim during a sudden quarrel by shooting the victim with a handgun. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled. This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI, the Navajo Nation Div ision of Public Sa fety and the Farmington Police Depa r tment a nd is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raquel Ruiz-Velez and Elaine Y. Ramirez. NEWS


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