ROSWELL, N.M. — New Mexico State Police released body camera footage showing a man opening fire and wounding two law enforcement officers while wearing body armor during a standoff.
A woman called 911 shortly after 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 28, reporting that her boyfriend was armed, intoxicated and threatening to take his own life, according to a critical incident briefing released by NMSP on Oct. 20
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During the call, the woman can be heard pleading with someone to “put the gun down” before shots were fired. Radio transmissions alerted NMSP officers not at the scene that an officer had been shot, prompting them to respond to the scene, KRQE reported.
Officers who were on the scene reported hearing screaming from inside the residence before being met with gunfire. A Roswell Police Department officer had been wounded during the shooting.
As the NMSP officers responded to the scene, the suspect could be seen pacing near the front of the home. Officers attempted to negotiate with the man.
The man ignored officers’ instructions and opened fire with what appeared to be an automatic weapon, prompting officers to return fire.
During the exchange, a Chaves County Sheriff’s deputy was wounded by the suspect’s gunfire.
The 911 caller informed an NMSP sergeant that the suspect had access to 30 firearms, ammunition and explosives, as well as gas masks and body armor.
The shootout continued as officers took cover and a sergeant attempted to negotiate with the suspect over the phone. The suspect told the negotiator that he intended to surrender but had already pulled the pin on a flash grenade and needed to throw it outside so it did not come in contact with other explosives.
Officers allowed it, and the suspect surrendered to the Roswell Police Department SWAT team after a standoff that lasted nearly an hour and a half, according to NMSP. He was treated at a hospital for a gunshot wound to his arm.
Both officers wounded in the standoff were transported to a hospital with serious injuries. They have since recovered, NMSP said.
The suspect was charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of felony assault upon a peace officer, two counts of aggravated battery upon a peace officer and two counts of child abuse, according to the report.
