Suspect arrested in Brookside Park shooting

• Farmington resident D'Jali Smith, 18, was arrested Sunday by Cortez Police Department officers.
• A warrant was issued last week for Smith for a count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault.
• He was arrested in connection with the shooting of two teenage boys around 8:23 p.m. on Oct. 26 near Brookside Park.

FARMINGTON — The suspect in a shooting at Brookside Park last month has been arrested by police in Colorado.

Farmington resident D'Jali Smith, 18, was arrested Sunday by Cortez Police Department officers in Cortez, Colorado, according to a Farmington Police Department press release.

"Details about the case are not being released at this time as the investigation remains ongoing," police said in the press release.

District Judge Bradford Dalley signed an order on Friday to temporarily seal the entire affidavit of the arrest warrant, according to a copy of the order.

It was requested by the prosecution — in the case, the State of New Mexico.

Dalley wrote the court found and concluded there is a compelling case to temporarily seal the entire affidavit because the disclosure of such sealed information at this time would likely identify sources in the criminal investigation.

He added that identifying the witnesses could lead to tampering with evidence along with bribery/threatening/retaliation against the witnesses.  

A warrant was issued last week for Smith for two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with the shooting of two teenage boys around 8:23 p.m. on Oct. 26 near Brookside Park, according to the press release and the criminal complaint.

The incident occurred at 1801 Brookside Drive during a Piedra Vista-Highland football game at nearby Hutchison Stadium on the north side of East 20th Street.

A supervisor at the San Juan County dispatch center said about seven shots had been fired.

A 16-year-old male was shot in the back, and a 14-year-old male was shot in the ankle during the incident, according to The Daily Times archives. They were transported to the San Juan Regional Medical Center and released on Oct. 27.

Smith is also accused of firing his firearm in the vicinity of two separate juvenile males, according to Farmington police spokesperson Georgette Allen.

The shooting prompted an announcement at the football game directing attendees to remain in the stadium as a search for the shooter was underway.

The Farmington Municipal School District Facebook page directed people to be escorted out of the stadium section by section.

Farmington police had an increased security presence during the Nov. 2 Farmington-Piedra Vista football game at Hutchison Stadium as a safety precaution.

Anyone with information about the incident can call the Farmington police detective tip line at 505-599-1068.

Joshua Kellogg covers crime, courts and social issues for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627 or via email at jkellogg@daily-times.com.

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