Albuquerque, N.M. - On September 10, at approximately 11 p.m., a New Mexico State Police officer on patrol in Albuquerque initiated a traffic stop on a blue Chevrolet pickup truck with two occupants driving with no taillights on Carlisle near I-40. The truck failed to stop for the officer, and a pursuit ensued.
The suspects took officers on a lengthy pursuit west on I-40 to Coors and onto Atrisco. Officers set up tire deflation devices near Central and Atrisco and were able to deflate the left front tire of the vehicle. With one flat tire, the suspects tried to get back on I-40 by driving east in the wrong direction on the westbound I-40 on-ramp.
NMSP officers performed a pursuit intervention technique to stop the suspects from traveling the wrong way on I-40. After the PIT, the suspects rammed one of the State Police units and started traveling west on westbound I-40. The pursuit continued west from Albuquerque towards Gallup. Officers again deployed a tire deflation device near mile marker 118 on I-40. With both front tires now deflated, the suspects double-backed on east I-40 to head back towards Albuquerque.
The suspects continued to flee officers on bare front rims. With metal and sparks from the suspect vehicle showering the NMSP units with debris, the suspects began to fire a weapon out of the back window at officers. At about mile marker 128 the pursuit came to a conclusion when the vehicle stopped, and the suspects jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot. After a short foot pursuit, they were both taken into custody by State Police officers.
The driver was identified as Cory Gabrielle (39) of Albuquerque, he was booked into the Metro Detention Center for the following crimes:
• Shooting at or from a Motor Vehicle (30-03- 08(B) a Felony)
• Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (5 Counts) (30-03-02(A) a Felony)
• Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer (30-22-01.1(A) a Felony)
• Receiving or Transferring Stolen Motor Vehicles (30-16D-04(A) a Felony)
• Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer (30-22-01(B) a Misdemeanor)
The passenger was identified as Rochelle Lopez (28) of Albuquerque; she was booked into the Metro Detention Center on the following crimes:
• Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (2 Counts) (30-03-03(A) a Felony)
• Assault with Intent to Commit a Violent Felony (30-03-02(A) a Felony)
• Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer (30-22-01(C) a Misdemeanor)
This incident resulted in two State Police patrol units being hit by gunfire, one with a gunshot through the front windshield and into the center console, and one with a gunshot in the front grille and lower front of the unit. A State Police unit was also disabled by the suspect ramming the officer. No officers or suspects were injured in the pursuit. This case remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.