THE MAN SHOT AND KILLED BY A NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE OFFICER DURING AN ALTERCATION ON I-25 BACK ON JULY 15TH HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 23 YEAR OLD JONATHAN MOLINA OF ALBUQUERQUE. MOLINA WAS A PASSENGER IN A CAR PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING BY OFFICER KEVIN SMITH.
SMITH WAS QUESTIONING MOLINA, WHEN MOLINA BEGAN FIGHTING WITH HIM AND PULLED A GUN, SHOOTING OFFICER SMITH IN THE LEG. SMITH WAS ABLE TO USE HIS OWN WEAPON TO SHOOT MOLINA, KILLING HIM.
AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT MOLINA WAS WANTED ON SEVERAL OUTSTANDING WARRANTS. SMITH, WHO WAS PLACED ON STANDARD ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, IS A FOUR YEAR VETERAN OF THE DEPARTMENT.
