A man from Dulce, New Mexico, has pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury after an incident in which he discharged a handgun inside a vehicle, injuring another person.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on July 21, 2025. Leandrew Cody Velarde, 22, who is an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, became intoxicated while at a park. The victim and another individual offered him a ride home. During the car ride, Velarde got into an argument and handled a handgun he had with him. The firearm went off during the altercation and struck the victim. The injured person was airlifted to a hospital but survived.
After firing the weapon, Velarde left the scene and disposed of the gun. Law enforcement later recovered both the firearm and a spent shell casing. Velarde was arrested nearby carrying marijuana, alcohol, and a cell phone.
Velarde pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and faces up to ten years in prison at sentencing.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the plea.
The case was investigated by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office with support from the Jicarilla Apache Nation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting.
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