A violent history
Suspect in killing no stranger to domestic violence

McKinley County sheriffs officers work together with New Mexico State Police while investigating and documenting a homicide scene Tuesday at the Thoreau Mobile Home Park. Officers captured Harrison Largo, who is their suspect in the shooting that resulted in the death of his girlfriend a few hours later at the hospital in Albuquerque. [photo by Jeff Jones / Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

GALLUP — A Thoreau man accused of killing his common-law wife Tuesday, has a history of domestic altercations that date back to at least 2002.

Former Navajo Nation Police Officer Harrison Largo will face first-degree murder and tampering with evidence charges in connection with the death of 41-old Freda Smith.

Smith was found laying face down in the driveway of the Thoreau trailer she shared with Largo and her children. She had been shot several times and later succumbed to her injuries at an Albuquerque hospital at about 2 p.m. Tuesday.

She was, however able to identify Largo at the person who shot her during a domestic dispute between the pair.

According a court records, Largo was arrested on Dec. 15, 2002, on kidnapping and aggravated assault charges.

The charges were filed after he was accused of the kidnapping of his then wife and teenage daughter at gunpoint and taking them to a remote area near the Zuni Mountains. The woman was then beaten until she and the teenager found a was to escape. They managed to get to the Prewitt Fire Department and notify police.

District Attorney Karl Gillson said he recalls that the incident was sparked when Largo suspected his wife was involved with another man.

Gillson said prosecutors allowed Largo to plead to lesser charges of negligent use of a firearm and attempted false imprisonment after the alleged victims refused to cooperate in the case. Largo successfully completed at least two years of probation in connection with the plea agreement and was credited for time serve in jail.

"In our heart of hearts we knew we would see Largo in the future, but in a darker light," Gillson said. "…We were very shook up."

Gillson said he could not speculate as to whether Tuesday's homicide could have been avoided if the case could have been pursued with its initial, more serious charges intact.

Gillson had no information as to when Largo's career with the Navajo Nation Police Department ended.

Largo was still in custody late Tuesday afternoon in Cibola County in connection with a drunken driving charge that was issued because of his alleged level of intoxication at the time of his arrest Tuesday at about 10 a.m. along a road north of Milan. He will be taken to Gallup's McKinley County Adult Detention Center sometime today to face he charges that were issued following Smith's death.

A Cibola County judge has initially denied Largo bond in that case.

If convicted of the murder offense, Largo could face up to 30 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.