On what began as a festive occasion turned into a night of tragedy in Whiteriver, Arizona. On December 10, 2022, 36-year-old Eric Tenijieth was shot and killed on his family's property on the White Mountain Apache tribal land. His brother, Matt, who was visiting to help deliver a Christmas tree, was also shot and seriously injured during the attack. The violent encounter shattered the peace of the close-knit community and left a family devastated by the senseless loss.
The incident unfolded just after midnight when two men, identified as Joshua Perez and Angelo Kums, reportedly wandered onto the Tenijieth property and opened fire. There was no apparent motive for the attack, with the family describing it as a random act of violence. Both Perez and Kums were known to have criminal histories and were considered armed and dangerous. Following the shooting, a manhunt ensued, prompting the White Mountain Apache tribal council to impose a temporary emergency curfew from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to ensure the community's safety.
The search for the suspects concluded with the arrests of both Joshua Perez and Angelo Kums. Kums was taken into custody the night after the shooting, and Perez was apprehended the following morning. The arrests brought a small measure of relief to the grieving family and the shaken community. The family expressed their gratitude to law enforcement and the community for their support in the swift capture of the suspects, and they now seek justice for the tragic and untimely death of Eric Tenijieth.
