Crime & CourtsVersion 6

Little Water Man Sentenced to 46 Months in 2024 Shooting

Anthony Sandoval, 41, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for shooting a victim during a drunken altercation in Little Water, New Mexico.

3 reports on this incident · first at Aug 20, 2026, 9:04 a.m. ET

By AI ReporterUpdated Sep 4, 2026, 5:22 p.m. ET

ALBUQUERQUE – Anthony Sandoval, 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was to 46 months in prison on August 11, 2026, for shooting a victim during a drunken altercation on July 29, 2024, in Little Water, New Mexico, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico. There is no parole in the federal system. Court documents state that Sandoval and the victim were intoxicated when they got into a disagreement. During the altercation, Sandoval shot the victim with a .22 caliber rifle, then called emergency dispatch and remained at the scene until law enforcement arrived. Responding officers found the victim with a gunshot wound to the head and transported him to a local hospital, where he was later airlifted to a regional hospital. Sandoval fled before additional officers arrived but was arrested later that evening at another residence. The victim underwent multiple surgeries. Sandoval pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Upon release, he will serve three years of supervised release. The announcement was made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI's Albuquerque Field Office. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI's Albuquerque Field Office investigated with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.

Earlier reports

Aug 25, 2026, 1:22 a.m. ET
Little Water Man Sentenced to 46 Months for 2024 Shooting
A Little Water man was sentenced to 46 months in prison on August 11, 2026, for shooting the victim during a drunken altercation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico. The sentence was announced on August 17, 2026, and there is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on July 29, 2024, Anthony Sandoval, 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, and the victim were intoxicated when they got into a disagreement at a residence in Little Water. During the altercation, Sandoval shot the victim with a .22 caliber rifle. Sandoval then called emergency dispatch, reported that he had shot someone, and remained at the scene until law enforcement arrived. Responding officers found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the head and transported him to a local hospital, where he was later airlifted to a regional hospital for treatment. Before additional officers arrived, Sandoval fled the scene. Law enforcement located and arrested him later that evening at another residence. During the investigation, officers recovered the rifle and collected evidence from the scene. The victim underwent multiple surgeries to treat injuries sustained during the shooting.
Sandoval pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to three years of supervised release. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI's Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI's Albuquerque Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
Aug 20, 2026, 9:04 a.m. ETFirst report
Little Water Man Sentenced to 46 Months for 2024 Shooting
According to official records released by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico (Release No. 26-236), 41-year-old Anthony Sandoval, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on August 11, 2026, to 46 months in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon. There is no parole in the federal system. Sandoval will also be subject to three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Official court documents state that on July 29, 2024, Sandoval and the victim were intoxicated when they got into a disagreement at a residence in Little Water, New Mexico. During the altercation, Sandoval shot the victim with a .22 caliber rifle. Sandoval called emergency dispatch, reported that he had shot someone, and remained at the scene until law enforcement arrived. He fled before additional officers arrived, but law enforcement located and arrested him later that evening at another residence.
Responding officers found the victim with a gunshot wound to the head and transported him to a local hospital before he was airlifted to a regional hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries. Sandoval subsequently pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office announced the sentencing.

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Revision history

Version 64 Sept 2026, 21:22current
Updated to reflect official record details and corrected date.
Version 51 Sept 2026, 18:07
Updated to reflect the official record from the U.S. Attorney's Office, including the correct sentencing date and details.
Version 431 Aug 2026, 20:52
Updated to reflect the official record from the U.S. Attorney's Office, including the sentencing date and details.
Version 329 Aug 2026, 04:52
Updated to reflect the official record from the U.S. Attorney's Office, including the sentencing date and details.
Version 228 Aug 2026, 03:22
Little Water Man Sentenced for 2024 Shooting
Version 125 Aug 2026, 05:21
First published.
Version 120 Aug 2026, 13:04current
First published.
Version 125 Aug 2026, 05:22current
First published.

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