New Mexico State Police say man crashed officer’s stolen car

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- A chase leads to an officer-involved shooting along I-25 and NM Highway 187. New Mexico State Police say the incident started when 21-year-old Las Cruces resident Abraham Quezada jumped out of the car he was riding in. The other people in that car told police Quezada had started acting erratically. This happened April 30, 2023 around 10:30 p.m.

Officials say Quezada then jumped into the bed of a pickup. They say the driver of the truck panicked and drove away. Quezada allegedly jumped from the back of that truck while it was still moving. State Police officers and Sierra County Sheriff's deputies started chasing him on foot. That's when Quezada allegedly got inside a SCSO car and drove off. State police say a SCSO deputy and a NMSP officer then fired at the stolen car. Officials say Quezada crashed the car into a parked NMSP unit.

Quezada was flown to El Paso. We are working to learn the severity of his injuries. He is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against an officer, unlawful taking of a car, and resisting arrest.

NMSP is not identifying the Sierra County Sheriff's deputy he opened fire. The agency continues to investigate the incident.