Three men from Pinehill, New Mexico, have been charged by federal authorities in connection with an assault that resulted in one death and left another person seriously injured.
According to court records, the incident occurred on January 5, 2026. Brothers Sullivan Jake Jr., 25, Braxton Jake, 18, and Juanillo Lee Jake, 23—who are all enrolled members of the Ramah-Navajo Indian Tribe—are accused of attacking two individuals identified as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 at a residence in Pinehill. John Doe 1 died at the scene. John Doe 2 was taken to Gallup Indian Medical Center for treatment of severe injuries.
Authorities allege that the three defendants arrived together in a blue truck and assaulted John Doe 1 using wooden sticks, metal poles, rocks, and other blunt objects. When John Doe 2 tried to intervene, he was also attacked. He suffered a broken arm, serious head and facial injuries, partial loss of an ear, and bleeding in the brain.
The defendants face charges including second degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. They will remain in third party custody while awaiting trial; no trial date has been set. If convicted on these charges, each could face up to life imprisonment.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the charges today.
The case is being investigated by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office with support from the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting.
“An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
