Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly has expressed his concern for the treatment of homeless and indigent Navajos after two homeless Navajo men were beaten to death in Albuquerque this week. The three teens indicted for murder were incarcerated on $5 million bail. The teens, Alex Rios, 18, Nathaniel Carillo, 16, and Gilbert Tafoya, 15, allegedly attacked more than 50 other homeless people in the Albuquerque area.

It is beyond senseless that these teens would attack homeless people in this manner,” President Shelly said. “The Navajo Nation is appalled that this type of attack is happening upon our people. We pray that justice will be carried out in this case.” He lauded the efforts of groups that assist homeless and indigent Native Americans with alcoholism issues through counseling and rehabilitation services.