Ramah Man Pleads Guilty After Shooting Into Vehicle With Three
A Ramah resident pleaded guilty to firing multiple rifle shots into a vehicle occupied by three people after a near collision, a federal prosecutor announced. The plea underscores federal involvement in crimes that occur on or near the Ramah Navajo Reservation and highlights local concerns about roadway safety and violent escalation.
A federal plea filed November 20, 2025 resolved a March 18, 2025 incident in which a Ramah man fired multiple rifle shots into a vehicle carrying three people following a near collision. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico said Leon Garcia, 42, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty to three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to court documents summarized in the Justice Department release, the episode began when a vehicle driven by one of the victims swerved to avoid a collision with Garcia's blue Jeep. After the near miss, Garcia followed the vehicle to a residence on the Ramah Navajo Reservation in Cibola County. When the vehicles stopped, Garcia exited his Jeep armed with a rifle, pointed the firearm at the three occupants, and fired multiple shots into the vehicle with the intent to do bodily harm. The release states Garcia continued firing as the victims turned the vehicle and again as they drove away.
The case was handled under federal Indian Country law and justice mechanisms and involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney's Office. That federal jurisdiction reflects how violent offenses that occur on or adjacent to tribal lands are frequently prosecuted at the federal level. The Justice Department noted the plea, the charges, and the prosecuting attorneys in its press materials.
For McKinley County residents, many of whom live, travel, and work near tribal lands, the case is a reminder of the risks that can emerge from routine traffic incidents and how quickly confrontations can escalate into violent crimes. It also illustrates the cooperative role federal authorities can play when serious crimes occur in or near tribal jurisdictions.
Local law enforcement and community leaders will likely monitor the case as it proceeds toward sentencing, and the plea may influence ongoing discussions about roadway safety, firearms risk, and cross jurisdictional coordination between county, tribal, and federal authorities.
