Man Dead Following Shootout With Las Cruces Police

Police are searching for answers after one man is shot gead in an officer-involved shooting that took place Saturday evening, according to the Las Cruces Police Department.

Officers reportedly responded to a call about a fight in the area of Espina Street and Foster Road. Police report that during their investigation less than a quarter of a mile away at the corner of Espina and Boutz Road, someone opened fire on the officers, and those officers returned fire.

One man was killed during that gunfight. No police officers were injured.

The identity of that man has not yet been released, pending notification of the family.

Neighbors in the area told ABC-7 the gunshots startled them. “I just heard the ‘pow pow pow’,” said C.C. Angel.

13-year-old Ashley Marquez also heard the gunfire. Her mother did not want to be interviewed on-camera but gave her daughter the OK to speak with ABC-7’s crew and stood close by during the interview.

“I wasn’t thinking straight because I saw the guy on the floor dead and I was kind of scared to see that,” said Marquez.

An investigation is being conducted by the Las Cruces Officer Involved Incident Task Force is being conducted.

The officers involved have been put on paid administrative leave as standard procedure in officer involved shootings.