Domestic violence believed to be trigger

Joe Kolb
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A Gallup police officer shot and wounded a man in a field behind a city auto dealership following a domestic violence incident in a local supermarket Tuesday night.

Lt. Craig Meo, of the Gallup Police department shot and wounded Kevin Yazzie, 35, of Vanderwagen, in the field behind Corley's Auto Sales at 1030 N. Highway 666, according to Henrietta Soland, criminal investigator for the New Mexico State Police.

At 10:07 p.m., Gallup police responded to a call of property damage associated with domestic violence in the American Heritage Plaza parking lot in front of the Safeway supermarket on N. Highway 666, according McKinley Metro Dispatch. At 10:08 p.m. a call was received of "shots fired," by a New Mexico State Police Officer who was also on scene, according to the dispatch supervisor.

According to Gallup Police Chief Dan Kneale, preliminary reports indicate a domestic violence altercation inside or in front of the Safeway supermarket which involved the security guard. When Meo arrived on the scene, he confronted Yazzie in the field behind Corley's Auto Sales. As Meo was returning to his vehicle, Yazzie allegedly jumped him from behind and started assaulting him, Kneale said. It was while Yazzie was on top of Meo in the dark muddy field that the officer pulled out his weapon and fired one shot, hitting the suspect in the chest.

"I believe Meo was in fear for his life," Kneale said."It's an unfortunate incident but with domestic violence incidents, you never know what's going to happen."

In the parking lot in front of the supermarket was a blue Dodge Stratus with the driver's side rear window brokenand glass on the pavement. The security guard, who wouldn't provide any information, appeared dazed and was rubbing his right hand.

Soland spearheaded the preliminary investigation awaiting additional State Police investigators to arrive from Albuquerque. Soland interviewed the two women allegedly involved in the incident to determine what had precipitated it.

She couldn't comment further on the case pending the investigation. When Yazzie was transported to Gallup Indian Medical Center, he was unconscious with a bullet wound to his chest, according the Lt. Robert Cron of the New Mexico State Police.

Meo, who suffered a fractured nose with cuts and bruises on his face in the scuffle, was brought to Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital.

Meo will be put on administrative leave, Kneale said, which is customary after incidents such as this for the purpose of the mental health of the officer and the investigation. Kneale said there is no predetermined duration of Meo's leave.

"We have an obligation to make sure he's (Meo) OK," Kneale said.