Las Cruces SWAT standoff ends with man shot dead after exchange of gunfire with police

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — An 81-year-old man was shot and killed Monday during a standoff with police that included an exchange of gunfire.

The deadly incident unfolded in the 900 block of N. Tornillo Street in the Mesquite Historic District after officers were sent there around noon on a report of a man with suicidal intentions.

"Officers came under fire from the man who remained inside his residence," police spokesman Dan Trujillo said, adding that the man "fired multiple rounds at police, striking at least one police unit."

A standoff ensued with a police SWAT team as the man barricaded himself inside his home and didn't respond to "announcements for him to lay down his firearm and exit the residence," Trujillo said.

The armed man eventually came out of his home much later and confronted three officers who fired their weapons and fatally struck him, police said.

No officers were injured and authorities did not release the man's name.

The three officers are being placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings, while the incident is reviewed by state police and prosecutors.