New Mexico State Police Investigate Officer-Involved Shooting in Alamogordo
DEMING – Last Thursday (August 29), the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was called to investigate an officer-involved shooting involving the Las Cruces Police Department.
At around 7:30 p.m., a New Mexico State Police officer stopped a Dodge pickup truck on US-54 near mile post 75. The driver, 41-year-old Wallace Gonzales, was observed with multiple firearms on the dashboard and allegedly threatened to shoot the officer.
Gonzales fled the traffic stop, leading to a pursuit that ended in the White Sands mall parking lot in Alamogordo. Both the Las Cruces Police Department SWAT team and the New Mexico State Police Tactical Team responded. For approximately three hours, officers tried to negotiate with Gonzales, but he refused to comply.
During the standoff, gunfire was exchanged, and a Las Cruces SWAT officer fired at least one round from their department-issued rifle. Gonzales was found unresponsive with gunshot wounds and firearms in both hands. Despite efforts from paramedics, Gonzales was pronounced dead on the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. No officers were injured in the incident.
The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is currently handling the investigation, collecting evidence, and interviewing witnesses. Findings will be reviewed by the district attorney’s office to determine legal implications. The identity of the involved LCPD officer has not been released, and inquiries about their duty status or administrative actions should be directed to the Las Cruces Police Department.
The New Mexico State Police acts as a factfinder in such cases, while decisions on the justification of the officer’s actions are made by the district attorney’s office. The investigation is ongoing.