DASO: Violent domestic abuse call leads to exchange of gunfire Sunday night

Las Cruces Sun-News - 9/6/2021

LAS CRUCES - A domestic altercation Sunday night in Santa Teresa led to an exchange of gunfire with at least one deputy from the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office, the agency said.

The Sunland Park Police Department found a partially clothed female running near the intersection of McNutt Road and Edgemont Road shortly before 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, according to DASO. While authorities say it was clear the woman was in distress and had a minor laceration to her hand, she refused to provide any information to the officer other than to ask to be taken to a relative's home nearby. At this time, there was no known crime.

At approximately 11:30 p.m., DASO received a call from the woman's family member to report she had been injured by her husband and had been taken against her will by him to an unknown location. Deputies were able to pinpoint the couple's location through a records check and by pinging her cell phone. Deputies responded to the location on Silverado Drive in Santa Teresa and immediately began to attempt contact with the residents, to no avail. During this time, the woman's family members called again to report the male resident owned several weapons.

Based on this information and concerns for the welfare of the occupants, deputies made an emergency entry to the residence. Shots were almost immediately exchanged between the deputies and the male suspect. No deputies were injured, but the male subject received superficial wounds. He was treated at an area hospital and released. The suspect was then transported to the Doña Ana County Detention Center for booking on multiple charges. The female was transported to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries, though the cause of her injuries was not immediately made clear. Her condition, as of Monday morning, was not known.

The incident will be investigated by a task force made up of authorities from New Mexico State Police, Las Cruces Police Department, Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office and the New Mexico State University Police Department. Once completed, results of the investigation will be shared with the 3rd Judicial District Attorney's Office.

Damien Willis is a Lead Reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached at 575-541-5443, dwillis@lcsun-news.com or @DamienWillis on Twitter.

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