Witnesses at the crash indicate Mr. Shorty was traveling at a high rate of speed and may have been texting. Investigating officers located his cell phone on scene, which had a partially completed text typed out but had not been sent. Officers believe Mr. Shorty was also intoxicated and alcohol is believed to have been a factor in this crash.
From NM State Police:
On Monday, December 14, 2015 around 3:00 p.m., New Mexico State Police officers responded to a single-vehicle rollover crash at milepost 146 on US 550, south of Bloomfield.
The preliminary investigation indicated a Pontiac passenger car traveling north on US 550 drove into the median area, over-corrected, and drove back into the northbound lanes of traffic before striking a guardrail and rolling onto its side. The driver, identified as Christian Shorty (22) from Farmington, was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
An adult female passenger, identified as Lynell Begay of Farmington, sustained severe injuries but is in stable condition. She was wearing her seatbelt. The third occupant of the vehicle, a three year old male identified as Kyler Nez, was seated in the back seat with only a lap belt. He was uninjured in the crash.
Witnesses at the crash indicate Mr. Shorty was traveling at a high rate of speed and may have been texting. Investigating officers located his cell phone on scene, which had a partially completed text typed out but had not been sent. Officers believe Mr. Shorty was also intoxicated and alcohol is believed to have been a factor in this crash.
This crash is still under investigation and no further details are available.
Upon arrival, deputies made contact with multiple individuals including juveniles and young adults and located a deceased individual identified as Samuell Tariq Liggins, age 20.
Following an extensive investigation by Farmington Police Department detectives, an arrest warrant was issued for 40-year-old Matthew Sandoval, who is known to have a family connection to Madrid, who has been charged with 1st Degree Murder and Tampering with Evidence. On March 28, Sandoval was located by U.S. Marshals in the 400 block of W. Animas. Farmington Police officers responded and arrested Sandoval on the outstanding warrant.
Invited guests will tour the temple, the afternoon of July 14, and all day on July 15 and 16, 2025. A public open house will run from July 17 to August 2, 2025, excluding Sundays.
Officers canvassed the area for the suspect; however, investigators believe the individual left the area prior to police arrival. The Farmington Police Department is releasing a video of a person of interest. The video shows a male on a bicycle headed east on Navajo Street towards Lincoln Avenue. The Farmington Police Department urges anyone with information or video surveillance from the area to contact detectives at 505-599-1068.
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Reports indicated the child had been locked in a chicken coop for extended periods and exposed to extreme weather conditions. Detectives immediately responded, removed the child from the home, and gathered evidence corroborating the allegations.