LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A New Mexico State Police officer was killed in a shooting on I-10 near Las Cruces Thursday and the suspect is dead, according to authorities.
Police said multiple agencies pursued the suspect’s vehicle from Deming to the Las Cruces area before there was an exchange of gunfire, KOB4 reported.
Not only was a state police officer killed, but a Las Cruces officer was also shot and taken to a hospital in El Paso, according to Roxanne Garcia-McElmell, spokesperson for the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Las Cruces.
State police confirmed the suspect is dead.
The interstate is closed in both directions from Exit 142 at University Avenue to Exit 135 near West Picacho Avenue, according to Las Cruces police.
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UPDATE:
The New Mexico State Police officer was shot and killed near Deming and the suspect was chased toward the Las Cruces area on Interstate 10, authorities told ABC-7.
The chase started at milepost 101 on I-10 in Luna County where the officer was killed. It ended near Avenida de Mesilla in Las Cruces, where there was then a second shooting scene.
State police confirmed the suspect was killed in a shootout at that second location. NMSP also said several officers were injured.
The most seriously injured officer was a member of the Las Cruces Police Department who was flown by helicopter to University Medical Center in El Paso after he was shot and wounded.
A hospital spokesman told ABC-7 that the LCPD officer was listed in stable and non-critical condition.
(Editor’s note: Caution the video below shot by ABC-7 viewer Austin Contreras shows the ending of the chase and shootout in Las Cruces that left a suspected cop killer dead and several officers injured. It is graphic and some may find it disturbing.)
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered flags across the state to fly at half-staff on Friday in the slain officer’s honor.
“I am shocked, heartbroken and enraged by the loss of this public servant. I am praying for the local officer who was also shot and injured,” the governor said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
