Gunshot wound kills Klagetoh man

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

RED MESA — A 21-year-old Klagetoh man died early Wednesday morning from injuries sustained by a gunshot wound to his stomach.

According to Officer Vera Wilson, media representative for Shiprock District, Genemy Curley was shot with a .22-caliber rifle by Jonathen Toledo of Red Mesa. Toledo's age is unknown.

Shiprock Police District received a dispatch call around 3:52 a.m. regarding Curley's injury.

According to Wilson, Curley began to raise a commotion after he and his girlfriend, Josephine Curley, and her brother, returned home to Red Mesa after going to the bars in both Gallup and Farmington.

Curley was intoxicated and began to cause disturbance among his girlfriend's family. Toledo, an extended relative of Josephine, then took out the rifle, and shot the victim while he was outside the residence. Toledo told police that he was trying to give a warning shot.

"People get rowdy when intoxicated and that was basically how it started," said Wilson.

Wilson said Curley had consumed alcohol, but Toledo had not.

Curley's girlfriend, and her brother then drove Curley to Northern Navajo Medical Center, where he later died during surgery around 8:02 a.m.

Toledo was detained briefly for questioning, but was not arrested or booked. The FBI and tribal criminal investigators are still reviewing the case.