ALBUQUERQUE, NM — A Zuni Pueblo man, Daryl Jay Dickson, 38, has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm following a fatal confrontation that occurred on November 7, 2021. The incident, which took place in Zuni Pueblo, left one man dead and has led to serious legal consequences for Dickson, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo.
According to court documents, the deadly altercation unfolded when 32-year-old victim T.B., accompanied by three others, arrived unannounced at a location where Dickson was repairing his bicycle. The group threatened Dickson, prompting him to use a handgun to defend himself, resulting in T.B.'s death.
After the shooting, Dickson fled the scene with the firearm, evading law enforcement for three days before being apprehended by Zuni Police at a friend's home.
During an interview with police, Dickson admitted to possessing the nine-millimeter handgun, which he had obtained in July 2021 after wrestling it away from an attacker in a separate incident. Despite his awareness of a prior felony conviction that prohibited him from legally owning a firearm, Dickson kept the gun for self-defense.
The firearm in question, described as rusted with its serial number obliterated, was later recovered by Zuni Police. Court records showing handgun had been involved in another crime— a domestic violence incident—on November 15, 2021, less than two weeks after T.B.'s death. The gun remains in Zuni Police evidence.
Dickson's legal troubles stem from a 2010 felony conviction in the State of New Mexico for breaking and entering, for which he received an 18month deferred sentence and supervised probation. His probation was revoked multiple times due to violations.
In addition to his prison sentence, Dickson will undergo three years of supervised release upon completion of his incarceration. As part of his supervised release, he will be required to participate in alcohol and substanceabuse testing, treatment, and counseling.
The case was investigated by the Zuni Police Department, with support from Zuni Fish and Wildlife and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones prosecuted the case. The announcement of Dickson's sentencing was made by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Albuquerque Field Office.