Over the past several weeks, law enforcement in San Juan County, New Mexico, has carried out a joint operation targeting juveniles allegedly involved in shootings, assaults, and other violent crimes. The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and Farmington Police Department, with assistance from federal authorities, reported identifying about 30 juveniles and at least two adults connected to a string of violent incidents. Of those youths, roughly 10—ages 15 to 17—are believed to have been directly involved, while others had peripheral roles.

The investigation covers cases of shootings, kidnappings, assaults, and a carjacking. One of the central incidents occurred on September 18, 2025, in the 700 block of North Allen Avenue in Farmington, where three teens were wounded: a 16-year-old grazed, another 16-year-old shot in the leg, and an 18-year-old shot in the chest and hospitalized.

Two firearms were recovered at the scene. Two adult men, Meshach Cayaditto, 22, and Dominic Dawes, 22, were arrested in connection with that event and charged with maintaining a disorderly house for hosting an underage gathering involving alcohol and disturbances. Both were booked into the San Juan County Detention Center and released the following day. During a press conference, Sheriff Shane Ferrari described the group’s actions as extremely violent, noting that many used social media to brag about their crimes.

Holds were placed on all juveniles taken into custody.

Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe expressed concern about the rapid escalation of violence and criticized weaknesses in the juvenile justice system, calling it “broken.” San Juan County District Attorney Jack Fortner explained that under current New Mexico law, juveniles can generally be tried as adults only in first-degree murder cases, and he called for giving judges more discretion. Other crimes under investigation include a carjacking in the Bisti area, where a victim’s vehicle was stolen and later damaged by gunfire, an assault near Farmington Lake where a victim was forcibly taken and beaten, and a shooting on the Navajo Reservation in Ojo Amarillo.

The FBI is assisting with parts of the investigation. Officials confirmed that no homicides have been directly linked to this group, though several fatal youth-involved shootings occurred in the area earlier this year, including the August 31 incident that killed 15-year-old Lamar White and a 19-year-old man, and the September 13 shooting in Aztec involving 18-year-old Angello Murphy. Sheriff Ferrari and Chief Hebbe urged parents to take responsibility for monitoring their children’s behavior, securing firearms, and being aware of their online activity.

Ferrari referenced Bennie’s Law, also known as the Bennie Hargrove Act, which allows parents to be charged if their child uses an unsecured gun to commit a crime.

Hebbe criticized legislative delays, saying, “People’s lives are being lost as we are screwing around.” Ferrari added, “Don’t be scared, be aware, and be confident in your law enforcement.” This coordinated operation aims to disrupt the violent trend early and restore a sense of safety across San Juan County while emphasizing accountability for both juveniles and parents.