The Federal Bureau of Investigation is trying to track down two men in the Four Corners suspected of shooting at a federal officer earlier this week.
Around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, an FBI special agent and a San Juan County Sheriff’s Office (Utah) deputy went to Cecil Vijil Jr.’s home in Aneth, located on the Navajo Nation, as part of an investigation into another crime.
According to court records, Vijil is suspected of shooting an AR-style rifle at a store in Mexican Hat, Utah, earlier that day.
As law enforcement arrived, officers saw Vijil through a window, and alerted by his movements, stayed in their cars. Moments later, Vijil reappeared from behind the home armed with an AR rifle and fired multiple shots at the officers.
The special agent and deputy drove to a safe distance from the gunfire and called for backup. No one was injured.
A second man, Gary Lee Jr., is also being investigated in connection with the crimes, though the FBI did not provide more information.
The San Juan Record reported the men, both in their late 30s, fled the area in a black pickup truck with Colorado plate “WAO698” and possibly went up the McElmo Canyon Road toward Cortez.
A spokeswoman with the FBI could not confirm that information but said all residents in the Four Corners should “remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to law enforcement.”
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office referred all questions about the incident to the FBI, which is the lead agency investigating.
Both men are considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about the suspects’ whereabouts is asked to call 911, a local law enforcement agency or the FBI at (801) 579-1400.
Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin said he had been notified of the suspects. As of noon on Friday, he believed the two men were still at large.
Erika Alvero with The Journal contributed to this report
