On November 26, 2022, in Las Vegas, New Mexico, 66-year-old George Bonney was fatally shot by his nephew, 41-year-old Joshua Corbin. According to Corbin's statement to the police, the incident occurred while the two were drinking together at Corbin's residence. Corbin claimed that as he was showing Bonney his AK-47 assault rifle, the firearm discharged accidentally, striking Bonney in the back of the head and resulting in his immediate death.
Following the shooting, Corbin reportedly panicked. He transported his uncle's body to a nearby field, where he concealed it under branches and debris. Corbin then returned home to clean the scene, during which he burned several pieces of evidence. The following morning, at the urging of his mother, Marie Cook, Corbin turned himself in to the Las Vegas Police Department.
Corbin was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. During the investigation, law enforcement officials noted that Corbin's mother, Marie Cook, was considered a person of interest and would be subject to further interviews. As of December 2022, Corbin was booked into the San Miguel County jail, with court records indicating conditions of release that included electronic monitoring and house arrest. A hearing to review potential conditions for pretrial release was scheduled for later that month.
