U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI Announce Charges Against Suspect in Fatal Shooting of Navajo Nation Member

ALBUQUERQUE – A Georgia man faces federal charges after allegedly shooting and killing a Navajo woman, stealing her car, and engaging in a shootout with law enforcement officers in New Mexico.

According to court records, Jaquari Hezakiyah Porter, 24, allegedly shot and killed Jane Doe, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, at the Sky City Travel Center in Acoma, New Mexico. He then allegedly stole her car and drove towards Grants, where he encountered officers from the Cibola County Sheriff's Office and Grants Police Department.

Porter attempted to flee and reportedly fired at officers. In response, officers returned fire, striking Porter twice before he was apprehended and taken into custody.

Porter will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Porter faces mandatory life in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Holland Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Cibola County Sheriff's Office, Grants Police Department, and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Elisa Dimas and Meg Tomlinson are prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.