ALBUQUERQUE — A Pinehill man who fatally shot his father and brother, seriously injured his sister, and tried to kill his mother during a violent rampage inside their family home has been sentenced to 27 and a half years in federal prison.
Ellery Brent Yazzie, 38, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will also serve five years of supervised release upon completing his sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
The December 22, 2023 shooting took place at Yazzie’s family residence in Pinehill, which lies within the Navajo Nation’s exterior boundaries in Cibola County. According to court records, Yazzie began the morning armed with a holstered firearm when he confronted his sister in the kitchen and threatened to shoot her and the rest of the family.
The argument quickly escalated into violence. Yazzie fatally shot his father, John Doe 1, before turning the gun on his brother, John Doe 2, killing him as well. He then shot his sister, Jane Doe 1, approximately six times in her lower body, inflicting life-threatening injuries. As his mother, Jane Doe 2, crawled on the floor in a desperate attempt to flee, Yazzie aimed his weapon at her and fired, though she survived.
After the shootings, Yazzie retrieved another firearm and additional ammunition from upstairs and attempted to take his own life. He survived and was taken into custody.
Yazzie pleaded guilty last year to two counts of second-degree murder; two counts of assault; and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Under the terms of his plea agreement, he agreed to liquidate all firearms and related accessories he owns and pay restitution to his surviving victims.
Federal authorities said the case underscores the devastating toll of domestic violence and gun crime within families and communities.
“This was a horrific and deeply tragic event,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison in announcing the sentence. Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, joined in the announcement.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Ramah Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caitlin L. Dillon and Jena Ritchey prosecuted the case.