Navajo man charged with assault

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Gerrick Mariano made an initial appearance in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Mariano, 25, of Thoreau, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for March 6, 2023.

A federal grand jury indicted Mariano on Feb. 22. According to the indictment, on Aug. 22, 2022, Mariano pointed a loaded AR-15 at his friend’s chest with the intent of scaring him. When the friend pushed the barrel of the gun away, Mariano shot his friend in the upper-right shoulder. The victim, who survived the shooting, was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital.

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Mariano faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation, New Mexico State Police, and New Mexico Park Rangers. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Jones is prosecuting the case.

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