On a clear evening in March, a call regarding a domestic disturbance spiraled into a tragedy that would cut short the life of a dedicated officer. Senior Police Officer Alexander K. Yazzie, a 42-year-old man and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, was a respected member of the Navajo Division of Public Safety, with 14 years of service to his community.
His life was brought to an abrupt and violent end on March 19, 2015, in a confrontation near the Arizona-New Mexico border.
The events leading to Officer Yazzie's death began to unfold with a report of a domestic violence incident in Little Water Trading Post, New Mexico. A man, later identified as 24-year-old Justin Fowler, had allegedly been involved in a dispute with his family and had brandished a firearm. When officers initially responded, Fowler opened fire before fleeing the scene, instigating a high-speed chase that crossed state lines into Arizona. The pursuit covered a significant distance before Fowler was located in the Red Valley area.
It was in Red Valley that the tragic conclusion to the chase occurred. Fowler once again opened fire on the officers who had been pursuing him. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, Officer Yazzie was fatally wounded. Two of his fellow officers, Herbert Frazier and James Hale, also sustained injuries but would later recover. The suspect, Justin Fowler, was killed during the shootout, bringing the violent confrontation to a close. No arrests were made as the sole suspect was deceased at the scene. Officer Yazzie’s sacrifice left a profound void in his community and among his family, which included his wife and children.
