Couple comes face-to-face with Hatch shooting suspect

A Las Cruces couple came face-to-face with one of the suspects involved in the shooting death of Hatch Police Officer Jose Chavez.

Socorro Garcia and her husband were driving from Hatch to Las Cruces last Friday when they were caught in the manhunt for Jesse Hanes and James Nelson.

Garcia spoke to the ABC-7 New Mexico Mobile Newsroom about the terrifying experience Monday afternoon during a procession for Chavez.

She didn’t know Chavez but showed up to help honor his life as his body was escorted from Albuquerque to Las Cruces by a motorcade.

“I’m just here because I want to give my respect and forget about whatever happened to us because it was very, very scary,” Garcia said.

Chavez was shot Friday afternoon and died at an El Paso hospital. The suspects are facing a variety of charges and remain in custody.

Garcia and her husband were caught in the middle of the manhunt as authorities chased the suspects.

Garcia said she and her husband were driving home to Las Cruces from Hatch on Friday afternoon, but could not get onto I-25, so they took a back road.

The couple came across a large presence of law enforcement officers, some who were directing traffic, and told them to keep driving.

Before they knew it, they came across Jesse Hanes, who was armed and trying to drive a vehicle he had just allegedly stolen.

New Mexico authorities used tire spikes to slow him down.

“He already had the flat tires. He was pushing the car, driving it and came towards us, telling us to stop and pointing a gun to us,” Garcia said.

She said it took her several moments to realize what was happening.

“My husband reacted fast and reversed the truck.”

Moments later, Hanes crashed into a pile of wood, where he came to a stop.

After Garcia and her husband made it to safety, they blocked the road so other drivers would not drive into harm’s way.