Man flown to hospital after beating
Suspect says attack was retaliation

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Phil Stake
Staff writer

THOREAU — Dion Emerson turned 42 in an Albuquerque hospital Sunday. Emerson suffered a savage beating Saturday night in an open field on Windsong Avenue at the hands of at least three, and possibly as many as five, suspects, one of whom was armed with club, according to witnesses.

Tyson Wood, 22, is being held on $10,000 cash bond at McKinley County Adult Detention Facility after admitting to striking Emerson at least 30 times, according to McKinley County Sheriff’s investigators. Wood’s sister, Tiffany Wood, 19, was arrested the same night, but booked only on an outstanding warrant until Tuesday, when investigators upped the charges to include aggravated assault and felonious aggravated battery, the same as her brother.

Also on Tuesday, investigators arrested Brandon Largo, 16, for his alleged involvement in the beating. Investigators say all three have admitted to attacking Emerson Saturday night as he walked across an open field just east of Windsong Avenue. A witness saw Emerson appear to stumble while walking, at which point Tyson Wood pounced and began to bludgeon Emerson with a piece of wood or a small bat, and Tiffany Wood joined and “stomped” on Emerson.

Investigators said that two additional people — both juveniles — are being investigated, but have not yet been charged.

Emerson was badly injured; his blood was found splattered 16 feet away from his beaten body. A helicopter transported Emerson from the scene to Albuquerque, where he is currently listed in stable condition in the intensive care unit at UNM Hospital.

As to motive, Tyson Wood’s admission indicates that Emerson, accompanied by an unknown number of people, attacked Wood a week prior to the Saturday night stomp.

Wood still had a black eye when he was interviewed by investigators prior to being booked at McKinley County Adult Facility.