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William Nakai

Death by Force
Case Description
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William Nakai, 46, male, was fatally shot on May 18, 2017, in Aneth, Utah, a small community on the Navajo Nation in San Juan County. Initial alerts locked down nearby schools as law enforcement searched for a suspect, and the FBI joined the Navajo Police and San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation. According to reporting at the time, officers were called shortly after 2 p.m., and the case immediately drew a multijurisdictional response because it occurred on tribal land.
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Links to Additional Sources (3)
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  • Navajo Times: Aneth, Ganado shootings lead to two fatalities - Navajo Times
  • Utah's homicides victims in 2017 - Deseret News
    •     ...View 1 additional sources
    Victim Details

    William Nakai

    Male

    Aneth

    UT

    2017-05-18

    46

    William

    Nakai

    11/05/2025

    Forum Posts (3)
    Has anyone looked into the mental health angle in the tragic case of William Nakai? It's such a sad ... ...Read More
    07/05/2024
    I recently read about the tragic case of William Nakai, and something that stands out to me is the r... ...Read More
    10/30/2023
    This tragic situation in Aneth, Utah is yet another reminder of how quickly things can spiral out of... ...Read More
    02/21/2023
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