LAGUNA, NM – At the end of July, Laguna Police Department was involved in a shooting, while no one was seriously injured, police did incarcerate 43-year-old Georgia Martinez Rubio after she allegedly pulled a firearm on officers, leading to the incident.
On July 30, 2024, New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was called in to investigate the officer-involved shooting involving LPD. The incident unfolded on NM State Road 6 near mile marker 2, where LPD officers responded to a welfare check for a female reported to be in distress on the side of the road. MM2 is right on the border of Cibola and Valencia counties.
According to the NMSP, EMS personnel arrived first at the scene in an ambulance, they encountered a woman, identified as 43-year-old Georgia Martinez Rubio, who was visibly upset, according to police records.
As the ambulance approached to offer assistance, Rubio allegedly, unexpectedly pointed a firearm at the EMS crew, prompting them to retreat and immediately notify the Laguna Police Department. When LPD officers arrived, Rubio again brandished the firearm, this time in the direction of the officers.
At least one officer discharged their weapon, striking Rubio.
Rubio was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and no officers were harmed during the incident. The New Mexico State Police emphasized that their role in such cases is strictly as factfinders, with the determination of the officer's actions resting in the hands of the district attorney.
This shooting adds to a growing list of public safety incidents in Cibola County, following another officer-involved shooting by Cibola County Sheriff's Deputies on August 16 and the arrest of Gregory Vaughn Santiago for allegedly assaulting an elderly woman in Grants on August 12. These events have heightened community anxiety, prompting local law enforcement agencies, including the Grants Police Department, to increase patrols and urge residents to remain vigilant.
As investigations into these incidents continue, the community remains on edge, with local authorities working diligently to ensure public safety while the cases progress through the legal system.