Written by Officer Ray Wilson 09/03/2021
Update 2: NMSP investigates OIS involving NMSP and Valencia County Sheriff’s Office
This update identifies the NMSP officer involved and provides additional details of the incident. For identities of the deputies please contact VCSO.
Valencia County, NM – On September 3, 2021, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was called to investigate an officer involved shooting involving the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) and the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO).
After further investigation, NMSP Investigations Bureau agents learned that on September 3, 2021, at about 3:00 p.m. two VCSO deputies were investigating a report of two suspicious persons on New Mexico State Road 6 around mile marker 19.
When deputies arrived, they encountered a black Hyundai passenger vehicle which they learned through investigation to be a stolen vehicle with a stolen license plate. As their investigation progressed, the two deputies separated as they attempted to locate the suspicious persons that were reported in the area.
One of the deputies returned to the location of the stolen Hyundai where he found a male and a female. The two were at the stolen Hyundai along with a white Dodge pickup truck. The deputy’s camera footage captured the deputy announcing himself as law enforcement and giving verbal commands to the suspects.
The male suspect, later identified as Jose Angel Baca, 28, of Los Lunas, NM is seen holding what appeared to be a metal chain. Video showed Baca ignored the deputy’s commands and turned towards the driver-side door of the vehicle. The deputy is seen discharging his taser, but it was unsuccessful, and Baca continued to try and get in the vehicle and drive away.
The deputy, who was still alone with no backup, is seen trying to physically restrain Baca and remove him from the Hyundai passenger car. Video footage shows the deputy create distance from Baca and the vehicle, at which time gunshots are exchanged between the suspect and the deputy.
The deputy was struck by gunfire from Baca, who then fled the area in the white Dodge pickup truck with the female. The deputy is seen crawling back to his police vehicle where he applied a tourniquet to his injured leg and radioed the incident to dispatch.
A be on the lookout (BOLO) was aired for the Dodge truck. Additional VCSO deputies and NMSP units in the area who heard the radio broadcast quickly located the Dodge truck and engaged it in a pursuit east on NM 6 through Los Lunas.
During the pursuit, Baca is seen driving erratically at a high rate of speed through Main Street in Los Lunas in a dense traffic area. Baca caused several motor vehicle accidents, and at times drove in the wrong direction and actively disobeyed traffic laws and failed to stop for law enforcement vehicles.
Footage shows Baca drive through a restaurant parking lot and then eventually turn onto State Road 314. He came to a stop near the railroad tracks at State Road 314 and Trujillo Road. Video captures Baca get out of the driver’s side door of the Dodge and begin to fire gunshots at a VCSO sergeant who was standing outside his vehicle. The VCSO sergeant returned fire toward Baca who continued firing at the sergeant while advancing around the sergeant’s police vehicle towards the driver’s side door of the police vehicle.
Video shows an additional VCSO deputy and NMSP Officer Wilson Silver arrive and get out of their police vehicles. The deputy and Officer Silver quickly move towards Baca who continues to fire gunshots at the VCSO sergeant. Both the deputy and Officer Silver fire gunshots at Baca.
Baca who was actively attempting to attack the VCSO sergeant was struck by gunfire at the driver’s side of the VCSO sergeant’s police vehicle. Baca suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI).
At the time of the incident, Baca had been recently released from probation for Aggravated Battery upon a Police Officer resulting in great bodily harm, Battery on a Household Member, and Resisting, Evading, or Obstructing an Officer during an arrest.
The female who was with Baca got out of the truck and fled the area on foot after the truck stopped at State Road 314 and Trujillo Road. She was taken into custody a short time later. She was not arrested on the day of the incident, but charges related to the incident are pending. She will not be identified until if and when those charges are filed.
NMSP Officer Wilson Silver was not physically injured during the encounter. Officer Silver has been with NMSP for five years and nine months. He was placed on standard administrative leave following the incident which is normal business practice.
For the names, conditions, and duty statuses of the VCSO deputies involved please reach out to VCSO.
NMSP Investigations Bureau agents work to independently determine the series of events that led up to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings are shared with the district attorney for their review and consideration.
The New Mexico State Police acts solely as factfinders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the district attorney’s office.
This incident remains under investigation by the NMSP Investigations Bureau.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 4, 2021
Update: NMSP investigates OIS involving NMSP and Valencia County Sheriff’s Office
This update identifies the suspect in this incident.
Valencia County, NM – On September 3, 2021, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was called to investigate an officer involved shooting involving the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) and the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO).
NMSP Investigation’s Bureau agents learned that on September 3, 2021, at about 3:00 p.m. VCSO deputies were dispatched to New Mexico State Road 6 around mile marker 19 for a suspicious vehicle.
When deputies arrived, they encountered a Honda Civic. At some point during the encounter a male suspect, later identified as Jose Angel Baca, 28, of Los Lunas, NM fired at the deputy who was struck by gunfire. Baca then fled the area in a white Dodge pickup.
The deputy radioed the incident to dispatch and a be on the lookout (BOLO) was aired for the Dodge truck. Additional VCSO deputies quickly located the Dodge and engaged it in a pursuit east on NM 6 through Los Lunas.
NMSP units in the area heard the radio traffic and assisted in the pursuit. Baca turned onto State Road 314 and crashed near the railroad tracks at State Road 314 and Davila Road. At that point, Baca exited the Dodge and began to fire gunshots at VCSO deputies and NMSP officers.
At that location, two VCSO deputies and one NMSP officer discharged their duty weapons at the suspect. During the exchange, a VCSO deputy was struck with shrapnel, and Baca was struck by gunfire. Baca suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI).
At the time of the incident, Baca had been recently released from probation for Aggravated Battery upon a Police Officer resulting in great bodily harm, Battery on a household member, and Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer during arrest.
The names of the officer and deputies involved will not be released until after they have been interviewed. The NMSP officer was placed on standard administrative leave. For information on the conditions and duty status of the deputies involved please reach out to VCSO.
The NMSP Investigations Bureau agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the district attorney for their review and consideration. The New Mexico State Police acts solely as factfinders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the district attorney’s office.
This incident remains under investigation by the NMSP Investigations Bureau. When more information is available it will be released.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 3, 2021
Valencia County, NM – On September 3, 2021, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was called to investigate an officer involved shooting involving the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) and the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO).
NMSP Investigation’s Bureau agents learned that on September 3, 2021, at about 3:00 p.m. VCSO deputies were dispatched to New Mexico State Road 6 around mile marker 19 for a suspicious vehicle. When deputies arrived, they encountered a Honda Civic. At some point during the encounter, a male suspect fired at the deputy who was struck by gunfire. The suspect then fled the area in a white Dodge pickup.
The deputy radioed the incident to dispatch and a be on the lookout (BOLO) was aired for the Dodge truck. Additional VCSO deputies quickly located the Dodge and engaged it in a pursuit east on NM 6 through Los Lunas.
NMSP units in the area heard the radio traffic and assisted in the pursuit. The suspect vehicle turned onto State Road 314. The suspect vehicle crashed near the railroad tracks at State Road 314 and Davila Road. At that point a male suspect exited the Dodge and began to fire gunshots at VCSO deputies.
At that location, two VCSO deputies discharged their duty weapons at the suspect. During the exchange, a VCSO deputy was struck with shrapnel. A NMSP officer also discharged his duty weapon. During the exchange of gunfire, the suspect was struck and died at the scene.
The names of the officer and deputies involved will not be released until after they have been interviewed. The NMSP officer was placed on standard administrative leave. For information on the conditions and duty status of the deputies involved please reach out to VCSO. The suspect will not be identified until after his family is properly notified.
The NMSP Investigations Bureau agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the district attorney for their review and consideration. The New Mexico State Police acts solely as factfinders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the district attorney’s office.
This incident remains under investigation by the NMSP Investigations Bureau. When more information is available it will be released.