UPDATE: The Office of the Medical Investigator identified the dead male suspect on Monday, Feb. 28, as Raphael Marquez, 31, whose last known address was in Albuquerque.
Belen police officers assisted in the pursuit of a suspect Friday evening on Interstate 25 that ended in the fatal shooting of a man. New Mexico State Police is investigating the shooting and did not indicate BPD officers fired any shots.
According to a press release from NMSP, shortly before 11 p.m., Friday, Feb. 25, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office asked for help in the pursuit of a male suspect wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a household member, who was also a person of interest in multiple homicides and had a violent criminal history.
The suspect was traveling south on Interstate 25 in a maroon Ford F-350 pickup truck. BCSO asked state police officers to deploy tire deflation devices to try to bring the vehicle to a safe stop.
An NMSP sergeant deployed the devices near milepost 195, the northernmost I25 exit into the city of Belen. The driver of the Ford drove over the devices and continued to travel south on Interstate 25.
A New Mexico State Police officer in the area initiated a pursuit, during which the Ford drove through Belen and drove the wrong way down an off ramp, before merging and going southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 25.
Near milepost 190, the southernmost Belen exit, a state police officer used a pursuit intervention technique maneuver in an attempt to safely stop the vehicle. After the PIT maneuver was used, the vehicle came to a stop after it rolled on the dirt shoulder.
BCSO Swat Team members and Belen Police Department officers arrived on scene to assist the state police officer. Officers gave the male driver numerous commands to exit the vehicle and surrender peacefully.
At some point during the encounter, two BCSO deputies along with the New Mexico State Police officer discharged their department-issued firearms toward the male subject.
The man was struck by gunfire at least once. Officers immediately rendered aid, but the man succumbed to his gunshot injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene.
New Mexico State Police is currently working with the Office of Medical Investigator to positively identify the male subject.
No officers or deputies were injured during the incident. The identification of the New Mexico State Police Officer will not be released until interviews are complete.
Julia M. Dendinger began working at the VCNB in 2006. She covers Valencia County government, Belen Consolidated Schools and the village of Bosque Farms. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists Rio Grande chapter’s board of directors.
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April 18, 2024
