Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
One person was dead after an officer-involved shooting Tuesday south of Tucumcari.
The shooting occurred shortly before noon on Quay Road 49, about a dozen miles south of Tucumcari.
New Mexico State Police Lt. Jerry Hernandez said at the scene that a law-enforcement officer exchanged gunfire with a person near the residence.
Hernandez said one person is deceased. He said officer was not hurt, nor was anyone else.
Hernandez did not identify the dead person or the officer. A brief news release from state police stated the officer was a Quay County sheriff's deputy.
NMSP officers stretched crime-scene tape across the road just east of the residence where the shooting apparently occurred. Officers were seen walking around the home.
About a half-dozen police vehicles were at the scene, along with at least two ambulances.
Hernandez said at 1 p.m. the scene was secure, but they were awaiting investigators.
He said he was glad the officer wasn't injured.
"It's been two months since we lost one of ours," he said with his hand over his heart, referring to the fatal shooting of NMSP Patrolman Justin Hare in March.
He said state police would release more information later.
