ALBUQUERQUE, NM - A Zuni couple, Shannon Concho, 45, and Lou Ann Johnson, 28, have been charged with assault with intent to commit murder, conspiracy, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury following a violent attack on John Doe in the pueblo. The charges were detailed in a grand jury indictment filed on May 14, 2024.
According to the indictment, the incident occurred on September 3, 2023, in Indian Country, within the jurisdiction of McKinley County. The defendants, both enrolled members of the Pueblo of Zuni, allegedly initiated a verbal altercation with John Doe, which quickly escalated into a brutal physical assault.
During the altercation, Johnson slapped John Doe multiple times and, along with Concho, took his phones to prevent him from calling 911. The situation intensified when Concho began beating John Doe over the head with a chair while declaring his intent to murder him. Following Concho's instruction, Johnson then kicked John Doe in the head, wearing boots, causing serious bodily injury.
The indictment also details that during the assault, a witness, identified as Johnson's mother, alerted the police. Concho and Johnson attempted to prevent her from calling the authorities but fled the scene together. They remained at large until their subsequent arrests in separate incidents.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Concho appeared before a federal judge last week and will remain in custody pending trial, which is set for September 12, 2024. Johnson, who appeared before a federal judge in May, will also remain in custody until the trial date.
If convicted of the charges, Concho and Johnson face up to 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, with assistance from the Zuni Police Department, conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.