On March 31, 2020, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office detectives and the US Marshals Task Force located and arrested 40-year-old, Ronald Lee Long of Farmington, NM on the charges of murder in the 1st degree (willful and deliberate), possession of firearm or destructive device by a felon and aggravated assault (use of a deadly weapon).
From the San Juan Co. Sjheriff's office:
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
On March 29, 2020, at approximately 3:15pm San Juan County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Road 1639 in La Plata, NM in reference to a shooting. When deputies arrived on scene, a male was found deceased inside the residence with an apparent gunshot wound. Detectives were immediately called to the scene and identified the deceased male as 56-year-old, Michael Gagnebin. Investigators collected evidence at the scene, conducted interviews and quickly identified potential suspects. On March 30, 2020, detectives obtained a search warrant and made entry into a residence on South Ivie Ave in Farmington, NM. Multiple persons of interest were transported to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and questioned by investigators. On March 31, 2020, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office detectives and the US Marshals Task Force located and arrested 40-year-old, Ronald Lee Long of Farmington, NM on the charges of murder in the 1st degree (willful and deliberate), possession of firearm or destructive device by a felon and aggravated assault (use of a deadly weapon). According to New Mexico court records, Long previously pled guilty to two fourth degree felonies in 2019; escape or attempt to escape from the custody of a peace officer and battery upon a health care worker. Long was transported and booked into the San Juan County Adult Detention Center.
For 15 years, Lauren Laws has dedicated her career to Aztec Schools, beginning as a Special Education teacher in 2008. In 2010 she transitioned to General Education, where she spent six years in the classroom working with 4th and 5th graders at Park Avenue Elementary while completing work on her Master's Degree. During her tenure at Park Avenue Elementary, she also served a Lead Teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Lauren has spent the past three years serving as the Associate Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for the district.
Brice Current was a former narcotics agent with the San Juan County Sheriff's Office in Aztec, NM. He was hired as Durango's Deputy Police Chief in 2019.
Crews arrived to find a camp trailer on fire and one occupant still inside. Another occupant was transported to the hospital with minor injuries and has since been released. Despite a quick response from fire crews, one occupant was found dead in the trailer after the fire was extinguished.
The name of the deceased is not yet released.
The FMS Board of Education authorized school security personnel to carry firearms on school premises during their January 9, 2024, meeting. The move paved the way for the hiring of Armed Campus Safety Monitors (ACSMs), former certified law enforcement officers tasked with providing an additional layer of protection for students and staff during emergencies.
Farmington Officials gathered with representatives from the NM Department of Transportation and San Juan County to break ground on the long-anticipated Pinon Hills Boulevard Extension Project. San Juan County announced that design work on their section of the project is 90% completed.
Kevin Summers will be returning to the Bloomfield School District as Superintendent, after the retirement of Dr. Kim Mizell at the end of the current school year. Summers' hire makes an opening in the Superintendent's Office in Aztec where he has served for the past three years.