A federal jury in Phoenix has delivered a guilty verdict against 45-year-old Derick Lee Myron following a violent 2024 crime spree on the Navajo Nation. After an eight-day trial, jurors found the Tuba City resident guilty on eleven separate counts, including second-degree murder, robbery, and multiple counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.
The case dates back to April 29, 2024, when federal prosecutors say Myron opened fire on a group of individuals on the reservation.
The shooting left one unarmed person dead and two others with life-threatening injuries. Evidence presented in court showed that after the initial violence, Myron stole a truck and drove it over the deceased victim before fleeing the scene.
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A massive two-day manhunt followed as Myron attempted to scrub his trail. Authorities testified that he ditched the stolen vehicle in a canyon near Cameron and hid his firearm before retreating into the Moenkopi Wash to avoid capture.
Law enforcement teams from the FBI, Navajo Nation Police, and several local Arizona agencies eventually tracked him down.
The legal proceedings were presided over by U.S. District Judge Michael T. Liburdi. Beyond the murder charge, the jury convicted Myron of discharging a firearm during crimes of violence and causing serious bodily injury to the survivors. Under federal law, a second-degree murder conviction alone can result in a life sentence and a $250,000 fine.
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The additional counts of assault and robbery carry mandatory consecutive penalties that could add decades to his time behind bars.
Myron remains in federal custody while he awaits his formal sentencing, which Judge Liburdi has slated for May 19, 2026.
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