Man shot and killed by LCPD officer a wanted fugitive

Las Cruces Police identified the man shot and killed by a police officer Thursday night as 32-year-old Juan Angel Piñedo.

The officer-involved shooting happened on the west side of the Las Cruces High School campus.

ABC-7 archives show Las Cruces Police had been searching for the 32-year-old Piñedo. LCPD published a press release September 21, 2018 after an arrest warrant was issued, alleging Pinedo drove up to a vehicle late at night and pointed a handgun at the driver. Piñedo’s ex-girlfriend, nearby, intervened by walking between the two vehicles and shoving the suspect’s arm out of the way.

Piñedo reportedly fired two rounds into the air as he drove away, heading south on Reymond Street. No injuries were reported. Piñedo had been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

A witness told ABC-7 he saw a man running on the high school’s baseball fields with what appeared to be a gun.

LCPS put out a statement Thursday night to ensure school is still open on Friday. District officials say the west side of campus where the shooting occurred will remain closed, however. Classes held in the GRADS building and field house will be relocated to the main campus. The district also said there will be no parking in the back of the school or near the field house.

LCPS wanted to remind the public that the school was on lockdown earlier Thursday for an unrelated matter and the two incidents were not connected.