District Attorney clears NMSU police officer who shot student

NMSU Police Officer Jarrod Colliver will not face charges after she shot a student while responding to 911 calls regarding a man carrying gun at an apartment complex on campus.

District Attorney Mark D’Antonio announced Wednesday the November 14, 2016 shooting was justified. The officer said Karsten Cuthair, 28, was making threats while wielding a gun.

Cuthair allegedly refused to put down the weapon despite the officer’s commands. The officer fired multiple shots and struck the defendant in the leg, police said.

D’Antonio cleared the officer after meeting with the Officer-Involved Shooting Task Force December 15, 2016.

The task force is a multi-agency unit that includes members of New Mexico State Police, Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department, Las Cruces Police Department, New Mexico State University Police and the 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office.