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Largo, 27, graduated from the police academy in Santa Fe in 2011 and was a police officer for six years. Largo had served with the Gallup, McKinley County, and Navajo police departments, garnering recognition from all three departments for his dedication and outstanding profes- sionalism.
“He was an excellent officer,” said Gallup Police Captain Miranda Spencer, adding that Largo had spent two years with her department before going over to the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office.
McKinley County Sheriff Ron Silversmith said that while Largo served with his de partment before he was elected, Largo had an excellent record and had performed his duties with distinction.
Largo passed away Sunday afternoon after being airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital with injuries suffered the day before when he had responded alone to a domestic violence call.
According to information provided by a backup report for the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, the call came from the Casamero Lake, N.M. area.
actually happened when Largo got there is still under investigation, but the sheriff’s report said more officers were called to the scene after reports came in that a Navajo police officer had been shot.
When other Navajo police officers arrived at the scene, they found an older model Dodge truck with the driver handcuffed to the steering wheel. The keys to the truck were later found in the truck bed.
Largo’s body was found on the ground about 50 yards east of the truck with his pistol by his feet. Two shots had been fired from it.
Largo had sustained two injuries. One gunshot wound was to his abdomen area, however, this one was stopped by his bulletproof vest. The other wound, which turned out to be a fatal injury, was to his right forehead and when backup arrived, officers reported that wound was still bleeding.
By the time sheriff deputies arrived on the scene, Navajo police had identified a suspect responsible for the shooting – Kirby Cleveland, who lived not far from the area where Largo was shot.
Police immediately began searching in the area where the truck had been found for Cleveland who was believed to have fled on foot.
Other officers went to Cleveland’s residence and then to one of his relative’s homes. He was not found at either place.
By this time it was Sunday morning and, according to the sheriff’s report, trackers and canines were called in from the sheriff’s office to help with the search which was now focused on a cave located about a third of a mile south of Cleveland’s home.
He was not found there either, but trackers led by county Sgt. Robert Turney, followed a trail that led to a nearby ridge where they found Cleveland who was taken into custody without incident and then turned over to federal authorities.
According to federal court records, this wasn’t Cleveland’s first encounter with the federal court system.
In November 2013, he had been sentenced to two years in prison for attacking a neighbor with a baseball bat, injuring the woman and saying he was going to kill a member of her family in an act of revenge for the killing of his brother.
Court records said the brother, Cordell Cleveland, had died when Julian Begay, who was later charged with manslaughter, drove a vehicle into a crowd of people at Casamero Lake in February 2008.
Cleveland is now facing a possible life sentence.
Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye issued a press statement Sunday expressing shock upon hearing of Largo’s death.
“Our officers are precious,” said Begaye.
“They are the ones who stand guard over our nation and protect us.”
Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Rehoboth Christian School Sports Center east of Gallup. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park.