Two locals fell victim to a Sept. 14 McKinley County Sheriff’s Office undercover drug operation and remained jailed on trafficking, conspiracy and solicitation charges as of press time.

Shawntel Luján, 21, of Gamerco, and Reyes Castillo, 24, of Gallup, remained behind bars Sept. 20 at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center. Additionally, both Castillo and Luján were wanted by law enforcement on outstanding drug warrants, officials said.

Luján was jailed on a $5,000 cash-only bond, and Castillo’s bond was set at $15,000, according to information provided by jail officials.

Leading up to the bust, MCSO agents conducted methamphetamine buys from Castillo. Although a...

A woman was arrested Sept. 21 after she reportedly confessed to police that she stabbed 22-year-old Kendrick Chee Smith, which resulted in his death.

Capt. Marinda Spencer, public information officer with the Gallup Police Department, said Brandie Allen, 24, was booked for one open count of murder, tampering with evidence, and aggravated assault.

She’s being held at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center on a $25,000 cash-only bond.

The stabbing occurred at about 5:30 pm Sept.19 when two Native American men ambushed two brothers that were drinking “four Loko” behind Sundance Dental, 1601 S. Second St.

According to the victim’s brother, Brandon Smith, 27, prior to the...

Alcohol believed to be a factor

One person was killed Sept. 17 after she was hit by a train near Fire Rock Navajo Casino at 249 Hwy. 66 in Church Rock, according to a police report.

At about 8:10 pm, Deputy Gabrielle Puhuyesva of the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the area behind the casino in reference to two pedestrians hit by a westbound train.

“While walking from the front to the back of the train, I passed the conductor of the Amtrak train,” Puhuyesva recorded in the report. “The conductor advised that there were two victims.”

Puhuyesva wrote that a female victim, Chelsea Chavez, 24, of Borrego Pass, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Derrick...

The death penalty debate will be coming to the Legislature sooner than many expected.

Susana Martinez announced Sept. 20 that she will add the death penalty to the call for the upcoming special session, adding a contentious piece of debate to a special session that already promised to hold heated debates over fixing the state’s massive budget deficit.

Martinez still has not set a date for the special session.

“I will ask the legislature to reinstate the death penalty as an option for those who murder children and police officers, as well as correctional officers,” Martinez wrote in a statement on Facebook. “Those horrific crimes deserve the ultimate punishment.”

She says...