A Navajo man man has found himself at the center of an alleged gunfight in the town hailed as New Mexico's most patriotic city.
Harley Davidson Joe, a 38-year-old member of the Navajo Nation, is facing charges in connection with an alleged gunfight that erupted over barking dogs, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico announced Wednesday.
He appeared before a federal judge on Wednesday and was released pending trial.
According to the criminal complaint, three people in Gallup were walking their dogs on May 11 when Joe drove by in a pickup truck. The dogs barked at the truck, but did not approach the vehicle. Joe allegedly stopped and got out of the truck to confront the group about their barking dogs.
During the ensuing argument, Joe allegedly brandished a handgun. One of the individuals, identified in court documents as John Doe 1 allegedly returned fire in self-defense, firing approximately 10 rounds, emptying his firearm. Joe got back into his truck and drove away, while the dog walkers, including John Doe 1, ran back to their residence.
Later, Joe called for an ambulance. Medical responders arrived at his residence in Gallup and found he had sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was transported to the Gallup Indian Medical Center for treatment.
Joe claimed he had been shot by an unknown person. At his home, investigators found his green Dodge pickup truck with blood inside, along with a Glock 17 handgun he had initially denied having.
Joe later told investigators he had retrieved the gun from under the driver's seat after he had been shot, and fired approximately five rounds at two men who ran toward him.
If convicted, Joe faces a minimum of 10 years up to life in prison.
"The town of Gallup has been named America's most Patriotic Small Town by map and atlas publisher Rand McNally," according to the city's website.
--with reporting by TMX
