The identity of a man shot and killed by a New Mexico State Police Officer last week on Manzano Expressway is still unknown.
Lt. Mark Soriano, NMSP public information officer, said the department is still working with the Office of the Medical Investigator to confirm the identity of the man.
At about 8:30 a.m., on Thursday, Nov. 19, a state police officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a grey Chrysler 200 passenger vehicle on Manzano Expressway. The vehicle fled and a pursuit was initiated.
The suspect driver headed northbound on Manzano Expressway, traveling in and out of opposing lanes of traffic, Soriano wrote in a press release.
During the pursuit, tire deflation devices were deployed, which the suspect avoided by traveling into oncoming traffic, nearly hitting a vehicle. A state police supervisor terminated the pursuit due to road conditions and traffic.
Less than 10 minutes later, a dispatcher with the Valencia Regional Emergency Communication Center notified NMSP officers there was a man standing in the middle of the expressway, attempting to stop traffic.
“This is still under investigation, but we believe he was the same individual that was driving the car earlier,” Soriano said Tuesday.
Two state police officers arrived on scene and when one of the officers attempted to take the man into custody, he resisted arrest, and a physical altercation started.
During the altercation, the man allegedly grabbed one of the officer’s firearm. The other officer fired at least one round from his department-issued sidearm, striking the man.
The officers rendered aid to the man on scene until emergency personnel arrived. He was transported to a hospital in Albuquerque, where he later died due to his injuries.
The NMSP Investigations Bureau was requested to investigate the incident. The identification of the officers has not be released by the New Mexico State Police at this time.
The officer who shot the man was been placed on standard leave. No officers were injured during the incident.
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
926
April 11, 2024
