A Church Rock man, Elijah Touchine, has been sentenced to 147 months in prison for his involvement in an attack on law enforcement officers on the Navajo Nation. This announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office.
The incident occurred after midnight on July 22, 2023, when officers from the Navajo Police Department and New Mexico State Police responded to reports of gunfire and threats near a residence on the Navajo Nation. While investigating, officers were shot at from an unknown direction and assailant, forcing them to take cover as bullets landed nearby.
Elijah Touchine, a 24-year-old enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was arrested later that day at a gun store in Gallup. He was attempting to purchase more firearms and ammunition when taken into custody. During questioning, Touchine admitted to shooting at the officers with an intent "to kill every [expletive] police."
A search of his vehicle revealed a .40 caliber handgun and ammunition in a black bag. Investigators also found multiple .40 caliber shell casings at the scene.
Touchine will face three years of supervised release following his prison term.
The investigation was conducted by the Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau Investigation with assistance from various local law enforcement agencies including the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigation, New Mexico State Police, Gallup Police Department, and McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Marshall is handling prosecution duties for this case.