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SALT LAKE CITY — A federal jury convicted a Utah man Thursday for a 2018 fatal shooting on the Navajo Nation.
Perry Maryboy of Bluff, San Juan County, was convicted of murder in the second-degree while within Indian Country, as well as use, carry and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to court records, Maryboy shot and killed Antonio Montowine on April 13, 2018. Both Maryboy and Montowine are members of the Navajo Nation.
Montowine, his wife and 7-year-old son were in their van looking for a lost pet on their family property on the Navajo Reservation about 2.5 miles from state Route 191 south of Bluff when they drove by Maryboy, who was parked on the side of the road texting.
Court documents allege that Maryboy escalated an argument with Montowine after he told to Maryboy to leave the area. Maryboy exited his truck, grabbed a revolver and fired two shots.
Both shots were intended as warning shots, but the second shot struck Montowine in the back of the head, according to prosecutors. Montowine died at the scene in front of his family. Maryboy fled in his truck and was later arrested at his home after a monthslong investigation.
"The defendant acted with complete recklessness," assistant U.S. attorney Mark Hirata said during the trial. "If firing a bullet to the back of a person's head isn't a crime of violence, I don't know what is."
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 4 at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge David Nuffer at the federal courthouse.
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