THE SANTA FE COUNTY SHERIFF ROBERT GARCIA SAYS NEWS OF ONE OF HIS DEPUTIES BEING ACCUSED OF THE FATAL SHOOTING OF A FELLOW DEPUTY CAME AS A SHOCK. IT HAPPENED AROUND MIDNIGHT AFTER THE TWO DEPUTIES HAD TAKEN AN EXTRADITED PRISONER TO A FACILITY IN ARIZONA.
THEY WERE STAYING OVER AT THE HOTEL ENCANTO IN LAS CRUCES AT THE TIME. SHERIFF GARCIA SAYS HE GOT A CALL AROUND 1:30 TUESDAY MORNING THAT THE SHOOTING OCCURRED DURING A HEATED ARGUMENT BETWEEN THE TWO DEPUTIES.
THE DEPUTY WHO WAS SHOT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, WHERE HE DIED OF HIS WOUNDS. THE DEPUTY ACCUSED IN THE SHOOTING IS IN CUSTODY IN LAS CRUCES WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING. NO NAMES HAVE BEEN RELEASED.
SHERIFF GARCIA TELLS 770 KKOB THE DEAD DEPUTY HAD BEEN ON THE FORCE FOR 2-AND-A-HALF YEARS. THE DEPUTY IN CUSTODY WAS ON ATHE FORCE ABOUT THREE YEARS.
