Milan man arrested in Native beatings

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — A Milan man has been arrested in connection with the beatings of several Native American men — which have been termed hate crimes by Grants Police — between June 9-17, Detective Sgt. John Castaneda said.

Shawn Longoria, 22, of 1003 St. Paul St., was arrested late Thursday night and booked into Cibola County Detention Center on $100,000 bond, where he remains in custody as of late Monday afternoon.

Longoria faces the following charges: Six counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon to commit great bodily harm, robbery and aggravated burglary (commits battery), all felonies.

Even though police have arrested Longoria, there were three others that participated in the beatings and police are seeking the public’s help in locating and arresting them, Castaneda said.

Five adult male Native Americans were beaten by the group of four while they lay asleep on the ground in various locations, including inside a residence, within a four block area in Grants.

Castaneda said police received information that Longoria was involved in the incidents, that he had been bragging about beating up Native American men.

Police then obtained a search warrant and went to his residence Thursday, searched it and detained Longoria for questioning, Castaneda said.

Police are following all the leads they have developed and are working toward finding out who the remaining three suspects are, but still need the public’s assistance, Castaneda said.

Additional details about the suspects are now available. The four men appear to be young Hispanics, and in three of the incidents were reported to be in a white four-door vehicle with chrome spoke rims, according to Cibola County Magistrate Court records.

They also have worn short pants and different colored T-shirts: Black, white and blue. At one point one or more of the victims was shot with a pellet or BB gun, court records sate.

In the incident where suspects entered the residence, on June 12, a bat was used to strike one or more of the victims, and rocks were used to hit some of the victims in the head, according to court records.

Police found broken windows and blood on the walls.

One of the victims told police separately that one of the suspects had a knife with a brass knuckle handle and that he was struck by the handle, court records state.

Grants Police are offering a $200 reward, and CrimeStoppers will offer a reward of up to $1,000, for information leading to an arrest.

The public is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at (505) 287-8400 anytime day or night, The line is manned 24 hours a day and all calls are confidential. The public may also call the police department during the day at (505) 287-2985, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

One victim told police the suspects told him they were “Mexicans” and didn’t like cowboys, court records state.

He told police the suspects were in a white Ford Taurus, court records state.

Longoria was heard bragging about beating up Native American men because they had now gotten Mount Taylor and they owed him, court records state.

Longoria faces a preliminary hearing in Magistrate Court on July 7.

In the interim, in order for him to make bond and be released from the detention center, he is required to pay 10 percent of the $100,000 bond set by the court.

If he is prosecuted and convicted of all charges, he faces up to 36 years in state prison and up to a fine of $50,000.

Crime Stoppers: (505) 287-8400; Grants Police: (505) 287-2985.