Loreal Juana Barnell-Tsingine, 27

Winslow, Arizona
March 27, 2016

Agencies: Winslow Police Department Arizona | Mesa Police Department Arizona | Maricopa County Attorney's office Arizona | Navajo Nation Council - Office of the Speaker | Arizona Department of Public Safety | Federal Bureau of Investigation - FBI | United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division | United States Attorney’s Office

Cause of death: Shooting

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Overview

Tsingine was shot by police after she threatened officers with a weapon, police said.

An unidentified source told Native News Online, Tsingine had a pair of scissors in her hand and had purchased some beer at the local Circle K. Tsingine was shot five times by Winslow Police Officer Austin Shipley.

Family members say they have a video and a differing view.

 “She had a pair of scissors that she used to cut her hair split-ends,” states Villaescusa. “She stood only five feet tall and weighed less than 100 lbs. Shipley, on the other hand, is over six feet tall and weighs over 200 pounds. I don’t think he had to shoot her.”

Villaescusa maintains he overheard the other officer tell backup officers that Shipley got “trigger happy.”

“I had to wait until 4:00 a.m. before the police told me the person killed was Loreal,” Villaescusa told Native News Online.

Tsingine’s death is being investigated by Arizona Department of Public Safety, which is standard operating procedure for a police department the size of Winlow’s.

According to Villaescusa, a private citizen videotaped the deadly shooting with his smartphone.

“I watched the video. She never raised those scissors towards the officer. It has been reported she stole a case of beer from the Circle K. I did not see any beer in the video,” says Villaescusa.

Villaescusa says the video has been sent to law enforcement. The private citizen does not want publicity.

Raul Garcia, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Public Safety told Native News Online, he could not comment on whether or not there is a videotape of the deadly incident.

On Wednesday, Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye called for an independent investigation into the shooting death of Tsingine by Winslow police officer Shipley, who has been placed on leave.

On July 27, 2016, the Winslow police department released bodycam footage of the interaction leading up to the shooting.  the actual shooting is not shown on the video.

Legal Action

March 2016 Witness speaks out

April 2016 Navajo Nation President to City of Winslow - We will sue you!

June 2016

The Arizona Department of Public Safety has finished its private investigation into the March 27 shooting death of Loreal Tsingine by Winslow Officer Austin Shipley.

The investigative report has been turned over to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for an independent prosecutorial review at the request of the Navajo County Attorney's office, Raul Garcia, a DPS spokesman said Friday evening. Garcia said he could not comment on any investigative findings.

Attorney's Office spokeswoman Rebecca Wilder said she didn't know how long it would take for her office to complete its review. 

On July 1, 2016, the family of Loreal Tsingine filed a $10.5 million notice of claim against the city of Winslow.

On Friday July 22, 2016, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery announced in a statement that no charges would be filed against the Winslow police officer who shot Loreal Tsingine.

August 2016 Department of Justice to investigate the killing of Loreal Tsingine

October 2016 Austin Shipley resigned from the Winslow Police Department on Monday, Oct. 31 after an internal investigation following his shooting to death Navajo mother, Loreal Tsingine.

In late March, 2018, the Navajo Nation filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against the U.S. Department of Justice, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Arizona law enforcement officials stemming from the 2016 police shooting death of Navajo Nation member Loreal Tsingine.

Community and Family Efforts

#SayHerName

#NativeLivesMatter

April 2016 Protest #JusticeforLoreal

July 2016 Navajo Nation Council Press Release

July 2016 Phoenix Protest

July 2016 Petition -

The Navajo Nation Council unanimously approved a resolution asking US Attorney General Loretta Lynch to investigate the Winslow, Arizona Police Department regarding the killing of Loreal Tsingine by Officer Austin Shipley.  http://www.navajonationcouncil.org/pressReleases/2016/Jul/NNC_appalled_by_the_clearance_of_Austin_Shipley.pdf

This petition stands in solidarity with the family of Loreal Tsingine, the Navajo Nation Council, and the entire Navajo Nation in calling for a federal investigation of Officer Shipley and the Winslow Police Department for their handling of this case. 

July 2016 Winslow Police release Body cam video

August 2016 Protest

March 2017 Protest one year later