LAGUNA, N.M. – On Sept. 12, around 9:30 a.m., New Mexico State Police Officer Sharron Duran was patrolling Interstate 40 when she initiated a traffic stop at mile marker 130 near Laguna, New Mexico. The officer pulled over a GMC pickup, which was driven by a Scottsdale, Arizona man, Robert Benjamin Nelson. This story has been updated to identify the officer and provide new information.
Officer Duran approached the pickup when Nelson fired several rounds – unprovoked – apparently aiming for Officer Duran’s head. Duran was shot at least once, managing to recover enough to return fire at Nelson, according to NMSP Officer Ray Wilson.
Nelson managed to flee the scene and headed Eastbound on I-40. Officer Duran returned to her vehicle – despite “having multiple injuries” – and chased after Nelson. The GMC stopped near mile marker 135 as Laguna police arrived on the scene to assist the injured NMSP officer. Officer Wilson said that Nelson was taken into custody shortly after that without further incident.
Officer Duran had nonlife-threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital where she was treated and released. Duran is not just an NMSP officer, she is also commissioned as a Federal Task Force Officer, with Officer Wilson explaining that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is involved and that Nelson may be facing federal charges for the unprovoked attack.
Nelson was booked into the Cibola County Correctional Center in Milan, N.M. He is facing several charges: Attempt to commit murder; Aggravated battery upon a peace officer; Shooting from a motor vehicle; Resisting, evading or obstructing an officer.
Officer Wilson explained that the details are still under investigation by NMSP’s Investigations Bureau and that no further information will be released until more information is obtained. The shooting, accompanied by a handful of accidents, backed up traffic on I-40 for several hours that weekend. This alleged attack was one of many that has recently struck the New Mexico State Police, as there have been multiple shooting incidents throughout September that have rocked the NMSP and injured their officers.
The Cibola Citizen will continue to follow this story and update readers when new information becomes available.