Las Cruces police say suspect reached for gun, prompting officer to fatally shoot him during narcotics operation

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story shared newly released video and details about last week’s fatal officer-involved shooting, saying the suspect reached for a loaded handgun less than two seconds after narcotics agents identified themselves during an attempted arrest in a crowded East Lohman Ave. parking lot.

The April 24 shooting resulted in the death of 45-year-old David Gallegos Jr. in the parking lot of the McDonald’s at 2330 E. Lohman Ave.

Story said Metro Narcotics agents had been investigating Gallegos for some time and had conducted multiple controlled drug buys from him before Friday’s operation. 

He said investigators also had credible information that Gallegos was in possession of a large quantity of narcotics that day.

Agents conducting surveillance watched Gallegos in the parking lot before attempting to detain him as he walked back toward his vehicle, Story said. 

Drone video released by police showed agents moving in to stop Gallegos before he could get back inside the car and potentially flee.

“From the time the agent says ‘police department’ until the first shot is approximately 1.87 seconds,” Police Chief Jeremy Story said.

Story then broke down body camera footage frame by frame and said Gallegos was reaching for a handgun tucked in his waistband and attempting to draw it as agents approached.

Police recovered a loaded 9 mm handgun from Gallegos at the scene.

Story said the entire shooting lasted roughly 2.36 seconds from the moment the agent identified himself until the final shot was fired.

No officers were injured.

After the shooting, investigators executed a search warrant on Gallegos’ vehicle and recovered what Story described as a significant quantity of narcotics, including approximately 1.13 pounds of methamphetamine, commonly referred to as a half kilogram, about 580 fentanyl pills and 20 grams of powdered fentanyl.

“This is not a trivial amount, but a significant amount of powdered fentanyl,” Story said.

Story also detailed Gallegos’ criminal history, saying he had dozens of prior law enforcement contacts, at least 22 arrests and multiple felony convictions across New Mexico, Texas and Arizona.

According to Story, Gallegos was on adult probation in New Mexico at the time of the shooting for Texas convictions related to unlawful carry of a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement and drug trafficking related firearm offenses.

Story said Gallegos had a history of probation and parole violations, including a February probation home visit in which narcotics and a firearm were allegedly found inside his residence.

“This is definitely another example of a failure of the system, without a doubt,” Story said when asked about recurring crimes from past repeat offenders.

Two other people who were inside Gallegos’ vehicle at the time of the shooting were treated as witnesses, Story said. No charges were filed against them in connection with the incident.

The agents involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, as is standard protocol following an officer-involved shooting.

Metro Narcotics is a multi-agency task force made up of personnel from the Las Cruces Police Department, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State Police, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Officer Involved Incident Task Force continues to investigate the shooting. Findings will be sent to the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office for review.