NM State Police release new information on Officer Corvinus’ death
New Mexico State Police have released new details on the death of Alamogordo Police Officer Clint Corvinus.
The shooting happened last Friday on South Florida Street in Alamogordo.
According to the report from state police, Alamogordo Police Department Officers Clint Corvinus and Christopher Welch were on patrol Friday morning when they recognized 38-year-old Joseph Moreno as a wanted fugitive with outstanding warrants.
The officers attempted to make contact withMr. Moreno but police say he fled on foot in an alley near the intersection of Sherwood Street and Santa Cruz Street. The officers then pursued Moreno.
State police say they reviewed evidence at the scene, including Officer Welch’s lapel camera.
Footage revealed, that during the pursuit, Moreno allegedly pulled a gun from inside a bag and pointed it at officers. Officer Welch then pointed his firearm at Moreno and fired. Police say Moreno then fell to the ground, and started firing multiple shots. One of the shots then struck Officer Corvinus.
Police say Moreno then got off the ground and continued to flee. Officer Welch continued the pursuit and fired additional rounds, eventually firing a deadly shot to Moreno’s head. Police say Officer Welch unaware that Officer Corvinus had been struck until after Moreno was subdued. Police say Officer Corvinus remained behind Officer Welch during the pursuit and was not in Welch’s line of fire.
During the investigation, police say they found unfired hollow bullet points and a pair of handcuffs in the bag from which Moreno retrieved his weapon. The weapon also had a serial number that was unlawfully removed.
Police say Officer Welch and other responding officers tried to administer CPR on Officer Corvinus. Corvinus was taken to the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center where he later succumbed to his injuries. Mr. Moreno was pronounced deceased at the scene.
At the time of the incident, police say Moreno had three outstanding warrants for charges of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of burglary, and driving with a suspended license. Police say Moreno had an extensive criminal history including arrests for armed robbery, aggravated burglary, multiple counts of possession of controlled substance, multiple counts of possession of firearm by felon, and contributing to the delinquency of minor.
New Mexico State Police are still investigating the incident. Once the investigation is complete, ABC-7 is told the case file will be forwarded to an assigned district attorney’s office for review.
