A father is suing the federal government and a Navajo Nation police officer for $10 million in damages, alleging the officer negligently and fatally shot his adult son outside his family's home on the Navajo reservation after waiting too long to call for backup and not waiting until help arrived.

Nelson Begaye filed suit Monday against the United States and Navajo Nation Police Officer Danielle Murdock for the July 22, 2022, death of Melson Phillip Begaye, alleging the officer deviated from the standard of care in her response, which the suit says revealed inadequate hiring, training and supervision by the Navajo Nation, a federal contractor.

According to the lawsuit, Murdock was responding to a call for assistance over a dispute between the father and son when Melson Begaye was shot and killed at approximately 10 a.m. He was 39, according to an obituary published by Farmington Funeral Home.

During the incident, Melson Begay ran from his Tohatchi, New Mexico, home and took shelter behind a structure, according to the complaint.

"At this point, without waiting for backup, Officer Murdock pursued him. She unreasonably concluded that lethal force was necessary, and she had placed herself in the dangerous situation by failing to follow procedure, training and supervision," the complaint states.

The suit alleges that the officer waited too long to call for backup, did not engage in mandatory steps to de-escalate the situation before using fatal force, and failed to use less lethal means at her disposal.

In addition, the lawsuit says Murdock had inadequate training in mental illness, use of force and incident response techniques. The complaint does not say whether Melson Begaye had a mental illness.

Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, the United States — as the contracting party — is liable for Murdock's failure to conform to her legal duty to refrain "from causing unreasonable physical injuries, where such injuries are caused by conduct that goes beyond the real or apparent necessities of her own defense," according to the suit.

The Navajo Nation operates the Navajo Department of Law Enforcement under a contract with the United States, bound by the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, according to the complaint.

The Navajo Department of Law Enforcement did not immediately reply to a request for comment Thursday.

The tribe's annual funding contract with the federal government states that Navajo Nation employees are deemed to be employees of the federal government while performing work under the agreement, the suit says.

"The liability extends to the conduct of the Navajo Nation as a federal contractor. Plaintiff alleges that the negligence of defendant Murdock in this case is the direct result of the negligent hiring, training and supervision by the Navajo Nation," the complaint states.

As a result of the shooting, Melson Begaye's father and family say they have suffered irreparable emotional and financial harm.

Nelson Begaye is asking the court for recovery of all lawful damages, including medical and funeral expenses, pain and suffering, lost earnings and earning capacity. In addition, he is asking for nonpecuniary, hedonic and survivor damages as well as other expected benefits.

Counsel for the plaintiff did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

Nelson Begaye is represented by Jeremy M. Gay of the Advocate Law Center PA.

Counsel information for the federal government and Murdock was not available on Thursday.

The case is Begaye v. United States et al., case number 1:25-cv-01116, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.