"When a crime is committed, it is probably natural for the family of the accused to feel a little defensive about any stories that are written about it.

In the case of the sniper on the San Carlos Indian Reservation, several families are feeling defensive, and as far as we know, the police haven�t even found the suspect.

A local businessman called the Courier last week with concerns that the stories implicated everyone who lives on the reservation. He said his customers were complaining that readers will think everyone who lives on the reservation was shooting at passing cars. That was not the intent of the articles.

The problem is there seems to be more than one person terrorizing travelers who pass through Bylas, Peridot and San Carlos. Since the initial report was published in the Wednesday paper, the Courier has received several calls from people whose vehicles were damaged and whose confidence was shaken when they were hit by large rocks being thrown onto Hwy. 70.

The issue is one of great concern to the Courier because the next vehicle hit by a rock or a bullet could lead to a loss of lives. It is our contention that it is better to take care of a problem by fully disclosing and discussing it before � not after � lives are lost."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Tribe should accept offer of help (The Eastern Arizona Courier 12/4)

Relevant Links:
San Carlos Apache Nation - http://www.sancarlosapache.com

Related Stories:
Random shootings on San Carlos Reservation (11/30)