A Zuni man has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison following a violent assault that left another tribal member with severe injuries. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office.
The incident occurred on January 25, 2023, when officers from the Zuni Police Department responded to an assault report near a road within the Zuni Pueblo. Upon arrival, they discovered the victim, John Doe, suffering from heavy bleeding in the head and facial area. Witnesses reported that the assailants had fled in a pick-up truck.
Court documents reveal that Christopher Hannaweeke Sr., 49, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, struck John Doe's dog with his vehicle, which led to a confrontation between Hannaweeke and Doe. During this altercation, Hannaweeke admitted to striking and kicking Doe due to being "overcome with emotion" over an ongoing neighborhood feud.
In an interview with FBI agents on February 3, 2023, Hannaweeke acknowledged that his actions "went too far." After serving his prison sentence, he will be under supervised release for three years.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office conducted the investigation with help from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting this case.
There is no parole in the federal system.