Navajo Nation police officer shot and killed in line of duty

The incident happened in Navajo Nation, near Prewitt in McKinley County, late on Saturday, when Officer Houston Largo was responding to a domestic violence call. Largo was shot in the incident and airlifted in a critical condition to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where he died at around 3 p.m. on Sunday.

As reported by the Albuquerque Journal, FBI spokesman Frank Fisher, said in a statement that a suspect is in custody, but no name was released.

Fisher said the shooting incident is still under investigation by the FBI, along with the New Mexico State Police and McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Fisher added that Largo was a decorated officer who had given five years of service to the department.

Navajo police officer shot

According to Lt. James Maiorano of the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched late on Saturday to a location on County Road 19 after information had been received of a Navajo Police officer having been shot. Maiorano said Largo was responding to a domestic dispute at that address when he encountered two subjects in a vehicle.

Largo had detained the driver, but reportedly the passenger escaped on foot.

According to Maiorano, it is so far not clear whether the driver or the passenger was responsible for shooting Largo or the reason for the shooting. He added that a passerby possibly found Largo, or saw his police vehicle following the shooting and called dispatch for help. The FBI has since stated that a subject is in custody.

Navajo Nation mourns

Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye said in a statement, shortly before Largo died, that they were praying for the officer and his family, as well as the police force. He said their officers put themselves in dangerous situations every day when handling domestic violence calls.

He said the officers are highly trained, but that things do go wrong and they can be severely wounded, as in the case of Largo.

Fox News quotes New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez as saying the sad news goes to reinforce the dangers police officers must face each day. Martinez added that she was confident the “monster” who killed this brave Navajo Nation Police officer would face justice.