Sunset Crater National Monument stabbing: Suspect arrested
Brandon Begay, 31, is accused of stabbing another man at Sunset Crater National Monument in Flagstaff.
The victim in the stabbing is expected to survive.
Begay is accused of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - A suspect accused of stabbing another man at Sunset Crater National Monument in northern Arizona has been arrested.
What we know
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office says deputies on April 21 responded to reports of a man getting out of a car and obstructing traffic near Highway 89 and Silver Saddle Road. Deputies say the man was nearly hit by passing vehicles.
"While in route, deputies were informed the individual had re-entered a white Ford Fusion with another male and was traveling north on Highway 89," the sheriff's office said.
Shortly after, deputies learned the two men were seen at the Sunset Crater National Monument Visitor Center.
"Deputies responding to that location were advised that the suspect vehicle had left, now with only one occupant, while the second male had left the area on foot," CCSO said.
Authorities spotted the vehicle along Highway 89 and stopped it, where they found that the driver had been stabbed.
"He informed officers that the individual who had left on foot from the visitor center was the suspect," CCSO said.
The victim is expected to survive.
Deputies learned the suspect was last seen walking toward Bonito Campground.
"During a search of the campground and surrounding area, a male matching the description was spotted on Forest Road 776," CCSO said. "When a deputy attempted to make contact, the suspect fled on foot. He was eventually detained but was determined not to be the stabbing suspect."
CCSO says the man was found to have outstanding warrants out of Coconino County. He was arrested and booked into jail.
The stabbing suspect, identified as 31-year-old Brandon Begay, was arrested after deputies resumed their search near the visitor's center.
"While searching for foot tracks in the area, officers located shoeprints leading from the campground into the nearby lava flow," CCSO said. "The shoeprints were followed, and the suspect was successfully located and taken into custody without further incident."
Begay was booked into jail and is accused of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
What we don't know
CCSO did not say what events led up to the stabbing. The stabbing victim was not identified.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
Michigan football will no longer plant or run on field with team flag after games
In 2022, when Michigan football beat Ohio State in Columbus, players went to the north end zone, grabbed the Block M flag from the cheer team, brought it to midfield, and planted it for a group picture and in celebration. When the Wolverines shocked the Buckeyes in 2024, the same order of operations was taking place, but this time, OSU players took exception, running to midfield and thus starting an altercation that ended in pepper spray being deployed. Despite history repeating itself in terms of the maize and blue planting the flag, with different results of post-plant outcome, Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore says that it won't happen again. "Oh yeah, we definitely addressed it, and there'll be no more flag planting," Moore said. "There'll be no more grabbing the flag. We talked about our new tradition, and what we do when we win a game is go meet the band, go sing (The) Victors, and stay over there until the other team departs, and that's how we'll operate. Shake hands after the game, show sportsmanship, be cordial. "A lot of guys in college football know each other. All these guys, they're kids at the end of the day. They're 17 to 22-year-old kids, and most of them are friends. A lot of them talk before the game, so let them have that. But then, as a team, they'll be together as a team and then leave as a team." There was quite a dramatic reaction, not even in the immediate postgame, with the Ohio State players rushing over to get in Michigan players' faces, but there was also proposed legislation from an Ohio state legislator making it a felony to plant a flag at Ohio Stadium. Due to the graphics that made their way around the internet in the aftermath, Michigan edge rusher Derrick Moore was something of a poster child for the incident on the Wolverines' side. At Big Ten media days, he laughed that off, but he also regrets the way things went down, considering his role as a leader on the team. "So first, I'm going to say I was one of the guys that was involved with it," Moore said. "A lot of people think I was trying to actually plant the flag. I wasn't trying to plant the flag. I was actually trying to run around the field with the flag. And as (I was) running around with the flag, I got pushed and things like that. So I ended up talking trash -- next thing next. The flag ended up coming off my head. And a whole scuffle turned out. "But looking back on that, I probably got two views on it. I feel like I could have did a better job as a leader of not letting that get out like that. Pretty much just celebrating with my teammates and things like that. But at the same time, I feel like that right there is pretty much why people come to Michigan or Ohio State. It's because of rivalries and atmosphere like that. I feel like that right there is going to be a good lead going into this year again." And his reaction to being made to look like a felon? Moore couldn't help but jest about the whole scenario. "it's actually crazy. For, like, a whole month straight, they had a picture of me with the flag on the field. And they pretty much just said, like, criminal or something like that under the picture. And I'm like, bro, wow. I'm a criminal now just because I tried run around with a flag or flying a flag? I feel like that's actually crazy. But all I got to say, man, hey, that's Ohio for you. That's Ohio for you. That's all I can say."

Associated Press
a day ago
- Associated Press
Central African Republic rebels found guilty of war crimes by International Criminal Court
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — International Criminal Court judges convicted two leaders of a predominantly Christian rebel group in the Central African Republic of multiple counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity on Thursday, sentencing each to more than a decade in prison. Former Central African Republic soccer federation president Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona and Alfred Yekatom, a rebel leader known as 'Rambo,' were found guilty of their involvement in atrocities including murder, torture and attacking civilians. The court sentenced Ngaïssona to 12 years, and Yekatom to 15 years. The charges stem from their roles as senior leaders in a militia known as the anti-Balaka, which engaged in bitter fighting with the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel group in 2013 and 2014. The interreligious violence left thousands dead and displaced hundreds of thousands. Mosques, shops and homes were looted and destroyed. Anti-Balaka forces 'attacked localities with Muslim civilians, killing and dislocating many of them,' Presiding Judge Bertram Schmitt said, reading out the verdict in The Hague. Malick Karomschi, president of the Muslim Organization for Innovation in the Central African Republic, a nongovernmental organization that supports victims of sexual violence, said that he's glad that justice has been served. 'We feared the worst — that they would be acquitted so the fact that they were found guilty is already a good thing.' Karomschi told The Associated Press. The pair maintained their innocence during the trial, which opened in 2021. It was the first case at the global court to focus on the violence that erupted after the Seleka seized power in the Central African Republic in 2013. The country has been mired in conflict since rebels forced then President Francois Bozize from office. Anti-Balaka militias fought back, also targeting civilians and sending most of the Muslim residents of the capital, Bangui, fleeing in fear. The trial of an alleged Seleka commander, Mahamat Said Abdel Kani, is ongoing. Last year, judges at the court unsealed another arrest warrant in the investigation. According to prosecutors, Edmond Beina commanded a group of about 100-400 anti-Balaka fighters responsible for murdering Muslims in early 2014. Separate proceedings against Beina and five others at a specially-created court are slated to begin in the Central African Republic on Friday. ___ Jean-Fernand Koena contributed to this report from Bangui, Central African Republic.


Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Sentencing of Niagara man for fatal 2023 hit-and-run may be delayed due to new impaired boating charges
The sentencing of a Niagara man for the 2023 hit-and-run death of an 84-year-old cyclist may have to be postponed as the offender was recently arrested following an incident in cottage country that left a swimmer with life-threatening injuries, court heard Wednesday. Richard Moore, 39, was scheduled to appear in Superior Court of Justice in St. Catharines to set a date for Judge Michael Bordin to deliver judgment on a charge of failing to stop at an accident causing death in relation to the Niagara-on-the-Lake hit-and-run death of 84-year-old Nestor Chemerika. Moore did not attend court. He was arrested by Ontario Provincial Police on Saturday after a 22-year-old swimmer suffered life-threatening injuries after being struck by a boat in Muskoka Lakes Township. Moore now faces charges of impaired operation causing bodily harm, refusing to provide a breath sample, failing to stop at an accident causing bodily harm and failing to comply with a release order. He remains in custody and is expected to appear in a Bracebridge courtroom on Monday. Ontario Provincial Police said emergency responders were called to Skeleton Lake after numerous callers reported a boating collision. The victim was rushed to a local hospital then taken by helicopter to a Toronto hospital with life-threatening injuries. In court Wednesday, defence lawyer Jeffrey Manishen told Judge Amy Ohler that sentencing on the Niagara matter may have to be delayed. 'There has been a very specific personal development in the circumstances of Mr. Moore with the result that I'm going to seek his instructions on whether as the result of that he wishes me to make further submissions on sentence,' he said. Moore previously pleaded guilty to the Niagara charge and the judge had reserved his decision on sentence, which can range from a fine to life in prison. The Crown is seeking a custodial term, while the defence advocated for a conditional sentence, also known as house arrest. 'As a result of these further developments, I wish to seek my client's instructions to see what he'd like do about them and whether that would necessitate a further submission,' Manishen said Wednesday. The local matter was adjourned until August. While the OPP did not name the victim of the boating incident, a number of social media posts have identified him as Austin Anderson. A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the young man's family. Almost $16,500 had been raised as of Wednesday afternoon. An updated statement posted on the page Monday said the Anderson family is grateful for the support they have received since the incident. 'At this stage in Austin's recovery, doctors expect him to remain in a coma for at least two more weeks to allow his body the time it needs to rest and heal from this horrible accident,' the statement said. 'This next phase will require patience, strength and continued support.' Details of the Niagara-on-the-Lake fatality were revealed when Moore pleaded guilty in June. On July 13, 2023, court heard, a Niagara Regional Police officer on routine patrol on East and West Line near Niagara Street spotted a single running shoe and vehicle debris in the middle of the road. He pulled over to investigate and made a horrific discovery — in a nearby irrigation ditch was a mangled bicycle and the critically injured cyclist. Chemerika, a retired GM worker, was airlifted to a Hamilton hospital. He died from his injuries on July 25, 2023. Moore fled the scene. A police investigation determined Moore's pickup truck had struck the octogenarian from behind. Moore did not stop or render aid to the injured man, instead he fled the scene. Among the roadway debris at the site was a damaged passenger-side mirror. Police later located a GMC Sierra in the driveway of a Niagara Falls home. Its passenger-side mirror had recently been replaced. Moore was arrested three months later. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .