PUBLIC SAFETY
San Juan County deputies fatally shoot man armed with knife
Deputy placed on administrative leave
Published
Modified
A deputy with the San Juan County Sheriff鈥檚 Office fatally shot a man with a knife Monday night at a general store.
Deputies were dispatched around 8:37 p.m. after receiving a call that there was a domestic violence disturbance at a Dollar General store in Kirtland in northwestern New Mexico, just west of Farmington, according to a news release from the San Juan County Sheriff鈥檚 Office.
The man 鈥� who was not identified Tuesday 鈥� had left the store and re-entered when deputies were inside, the sheriff鈥檚 office said.
Deputies said the man approached them with a knife 鈥渞aised above his head鈥� as deputies were interviewing the victim, the release states.
鈥淒eputies made multiple commands to stop and drop the knife, however, the suspect ignored the commands and continued moving towards the deputies with the knife,鈥� the San Juan County Sheriff鈥檚 Office said. 鈥淎 deputy discharged his sidearm, striking the suspect.鈥�
The man died at the scene, according to the San Juan County Sheriff鈥檚 Office. The sheriff鈥檚 office said the deputy who opened fire was placed on administrative leave.
鈥淲e understand that situations like this can be unsettling and concerning,鈥� the sheriff鈥檚 office wrote. 鈥淲e appreciate your patience as the investigation proceeds.鈥�
The Farmington Police Department is leading the investigation.
