Guilty plea entered in Navajo slaying

A 19-year-old Navajo man admitted in federal court Monday that he shot at a group of people, killing one of them.

Jeremy Harrison appeared in U.S. District Court to enter a plea to voluntary manslaughter. Harrison was indicted by a grand jury earlier this month on charges of second-degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury within Indian country.

Harrison admitted to shooting and killing 28-year-old Alphonso Benally as he walked away from Harrison's home in Montezuma Creek, located on the Navajo Nation reservation in the Four Corners area of Utah.

According to the FBI, Harrison had an argument with one of Benally's friends on a Saturday night. About two hours later, Benally and three friends showed up at Harrison's home asking for him. The group was told Harrison wasn't there.

As they turned to leave, Harrison came out and began shooting at them with a .22-caliber rifle. Benally was shot and killed, and a teenage male was injured. In court, Harrison admitted to shooting Benally numerous times in the back and then striking him in the head repeatedly with the butt of the rifle as he lay on the ground.

Although Harrison pleaded guilty to a reduced charge, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison when sentenced on Oct. 10. Harrison also admitted that the crime was committed in the heat of anger. Law enforcement reported alcohol was believed to be a factor in the shooting.

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