One man is dead, and a woman remains hospitalized following a police shooting Sunday morning near Del Rey and Settler’s Pass in New Mexico. The Doña Ana County Sherriff’s Office and Las Cruces Police Department issued news releases stating that police shot and killed a 43-year-old man and injured a 30-year-old woman around 1:30 a.m. after a pursuit and shootout on Del Rey Boulevard near Settler’s Pass.
How Did The New Mexico Police Shooting Begin?
According to DASO, the incident began when deputies at Circle K on Thorpe Road noticed a truck pulling a utility trailer exiting Interstate 25. The trailer had a blown tire, but the release did not state how or if deputies attempted to stop the vehicle. Deputies pursued the truck to the Del Rey and Settler’s Pass intersection, about five miles away.
The Las Cruces Police Department said in a news release, “Preliminary information indicates there were people being transported in the open trailer.” During the pursuit, New Mexico State Police officers, the Las Cruces Police Department, and Border Patrol agents joined the chase. It’s unclear from the news release how or why those officers joined. But as the cadre of officers pursuing the truck arrived at Del Rey and Settler’s Pass, DASO said the man driving the truck pulled out a gun and shot at officers.
Who Got Injured in the New Mexico Police Shooting?
Police said as deputies approached the truck, the driver began firing, and deputies, State Police, and LCPD took cover and returned fire after the driver failed to follow police commands. None of the officers involved suffered any injuries.
The news release said that deputies, NMSP officers, and Border Patrol agents all returned fire. It wasn’t clear which officer shot the man or the woman as of the publication of this article. The man and woman were taken to an El Paso hospital at the outset of the shooting. The man died, and the woman’s condition was unknown.
The driver was shot in the exchange and taken to Mountainview Regional Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries. The wounded woman was taken to University Medical Center in El Paso and was later released. The identity of the two victims has not been given out at this time.
Who Will Lead Later Investigations?
As of the publication of this article, DASO did not know the identity of the man or the woman. The release confirmed that the police shooting would be investigated by a task force made up of local police departments.
The Officer-involved Incident Task Force includes detectives from NMSP, Las Cruces Police Department, Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, and New Mexico State University Police. DASO will host a news conference on Tuesday to provide further information.
According to officials, at least one police officer from LCPD discharged his weapon and will be placed on administrative leave, which is standard policy for officer-involved shootings.