Officers Injured, Suspect Dead in Early-morning Incident
Las Cruces police and the Officer-involved Incident Task Force are investigating an incident that led to the injury of three law enforcement officers and the death of a man who is suspected of firing multiple rounds at officers.
Shortly before 2:30 a.m. on Monday, June 17, a Las Cruces Police Department officer was checking out with a suspicious subject near Lohman Avenue and Nacho Drive. Preliminary information indicates the officer, in his marked police unit, shined a spotlight on the subject who was on foot. The subject, a man who remains unidentified at this time, fired multiple rounds at the officer’s police unit.
At least two rounds penetrated the police unit’s windshield, one of which struck the officer. The officer drove himself to a nearby hospital. His injury is not life-threatening.
Police believe the shooting suspect also tried to carjack a delivery driver near The Home Depot, at 225 N. Telshor Blvd., but was unsuccessful.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene and located the suspect near The Home Depot. Officers attempted to take the suspect into custody and gave multiple commands, but he was non-compliant. Officers fired non-lethal munitions but they, too, were largely ineffective. It’s believed the suspect fired at least one round toward officers before they responded with multiple rounds.
A Las Cruces police officer and a Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office deputy were injured during the final confrontation. Their injuries are not life-threatening. The suspect was struck by at least one round and was declared dead at the scene.
Police expect most of the nearby businesses – including The Home Depot, Target, Albertson’s, Office Max and Starbucks – to be closed for part of the day while the scene is processed by investigators. The parking lots to those businesses are also closed including a portion of Nacho Drive between Lohman Avenue and Telshor Boulevard. Lohman and Telshor are open to traffic.
Agencies involved in the investigation are LCPD, New Mexico State Police, Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State University Police and Border Patrol.
