LAGUNA, N.M. — A police chase that began on October 17 just west of Los Lunas, New Mexico turned fatal after ending near Laguna, NM.
Valencia County Sheriff’s Deputies were pursuing a vehicle driven by Richard James Romero on State Road 6, just West of Los Lunas. The deputies terminated their pursuit after the vehicle made its way onto Interstate 40, travelling Westbound, according to New Mexico State Police Public Information Officer Dusty Francisco.
As Romero continued heading westbound a New Mexico State Police officer recognized the vehicle from a description put out by VCSO. The NMSP officer turned on his lights and attempted what the state police call a “high-risk felony traffic stop.” Instead of coming to a stop, the suspect instead sped off, and NMSP initiated a pursuit on the vehicle.
This is when Romero, driver of the vehicle, merged from the westbound lanes to the eastbound lanes of 1-40, the NMSP officer then attempted a Pursuit Intervention Technique maneuver, commonly referred to as a PIT maneuver, to try and bring the vehicle to a safe stop. The maneuver was unsuccessful, and the vehicle continued eastbound.
Near milepost 126 the vehicle took an exit where Romero turned around and drove back on to 1-40 going westbound.
An officer with NMSP who had been assisting with the pursuit deployed stop-sticks near milepost 120. The sticks did little to stop Romero who continued to travel westbound. Another officer, further up the road, deployed more stop-sticks at milepost 116.
With blown out tires the vehicle continued to travel westbound for two miles before NMSP Officer Gene Gonzales was able to use a successful PIT maneuver. Officer Francisco said that the vehicle crashed into a cable barrier in the median of the interstate near milepost 114.
NMSP, assisted by Laguna Tribal Police Officers, were able to see that Romero was the only suspect in the vehicle. Both law enforcement agencies began to give commands to the man, ordering him to “surrender peacefully.”
A Laguna Tribal Police Officer fired a “less-lethal” bean bag round at the suspect through a window after law enforcement noticed the driver moving around the inside of the vehicle.
NMSP said that “at some point” Romero, who was still inside the vehicle, allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot at officers through the front windshield. At this point Officer Gonzales fired his department issued firearm at Romero.
After the gunfire officers continued to give orders for Romero to remove himself from the vehicle, the suspect continued to ignore the commands. Law enforcement were able to notice that the police were able to visually identify a rifle in Romero’s lap.
A Laguna Tribal Police Officer fired a “less-lethal” beanbag, the second one fired from Laguna officers, at the suspect. There was no response from the suspect. Officers attempted to get closer to the vehicle and noticed that the suspect was “unresponsive.”
According to Officer Francisco, a Laguna Tribal Police Officer took the rifle from Romero’s lap and other officers attempted to render medical assistance. Emergency Medical Service providers were contacted to come and help further.
Romero died on the scene.
“New Mexico State Police Officer Gene Gonzales was placed on standard administrative leave. Officer Gonzales has been with the New Mexico State Police for approximately 12 years and 5 months. Upon completion of the investigation this case will be forwarded to an assigned district attorney’s office for review,” according to officer Francisco.
The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is investigating the entire incident. Officer Francisco said that no names, of any officers or the suspect, will be released at this time. No officers were injured during the alleged incident, Francisco said that the case is still under investigation.
The Cibola Citizen will continue to follow this story as more information becomes available.