Audio By Carbonatix
The fatal shooting of a New Mexico State Police officer Thursday led to a high-speed chase that ended in a shootout with the suspect.
State Police said Officer Darian Jarrott was killed on Interstate 10 near the town of Akela in Luna County, about 70 miles northwest of El Paso, Texas.
Jarrott, 28, initiated a traffic stop of a white pickup truck while "assisting Homeland Security Investigations," according to NMSP chief Robert Thornton in a press conference late Thursday.
The driver of the truck, identified by police as Omar Felix Cueva, 39, shot and killed Jarrott before heading east on the interstate toward Las Cruces.
Police said they intercepted Cueva approximately 15 miles from the fatal shooting, where Cueva pulled over and fired at responding officers. Gunfire was exchanged before Cueva fled again.
Law enforcement from multiple departments gave chase, Thornton said, including officers from NMSP, US Border Patrol, Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office and Las Cruces Police Department.
As Cueva entered Las Cruces, police deployed spike strips to damage the truck's tires.
According to Thornton, a Las Cruces officer also executed a Pursuit Intervention Technique to force the truck sideways.
The video showed a Las Cruces police cruiser shoving the truck off of the road. After the truck slides to a halt, Cueva is seen emerging from the vehicle and pointing a firearm at police amid sounds of gunfire.
One officer is seen crouching behind the police vehicle closest to the truck.
The gunfire continues until police approach the truck as Cueva appears motionless next to the vehicle.
State Police confirmed that Cueva was shot at least once and died on the scene.
One Las Cruces officer was injured in the shooting, but police said the officer was treated at an area hospital and released.
Jarrott began his career as a transportation inspector with the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.
He was sworn in as a NMSP officer in July 2015.Jarrott is survived by three young children, with a fourth expected this year, according to NMSP chief Thornton.
"We're here to honor Officer Darian Jarrett, for his sacrifice and what he's done for this community and done for this state," Thornton said, sharing that one of Jarrott's captains described the officer as the "nicest guy he ever met, that always had a smile on his face."
Latest Stories
-
Accra Open Championships conclude with strong performances ahead of African Championships
5 minutes -
Ghana to begin camping with 12 athletes after Accra Open Championships – Bawa Fuseni
26 minutes -
Anthony Joshua declines showdown with Tyson Fury but admits they ‘probably’ clash next
40 minutes -
Tyson Fury dominates Makhmudov, calls out Joshua next
59 minutes -
I have supported highway authority financially to fix roads in my constituency – A Plus
2 hours -
US, Iran fail to reach peace agreement after marathon talks in Pakistan
2 hours -
ECG kicks off Phase Two of transformer upgrades at Lashibi; brief outages expected
3 hours -
Port crises loom as 11,000 drivers threaten four-day strike
4 hours -
A source of excellence across generations – Vice President Opoku-Agyemang lauds Mfantsipim
5 hours -
(Photos) Mfantsipim School launches historic 150th anniversary
5 hours -
Knights and Ladies of Marshall group backs Catholic Bishops’ stance on anti-LGBTQ+
6 hours -
Bright Simons writes: All the Filla in the Ibrahim Mahama/E&P – Gold Fields Saga
6 hours -
Monetise Idiocy In Ghana
7 hours -
The Ghanaian prophet and the mysterious death of his scottish wife Charmain Speirs
7 hours -
Nearly 400 sentenced in Nigeria for links to militant Islamists
8 hours