NEWS
State Police: Man killed by officer in Los Lunas shootout
Suspect was on probation for pointing a rifle at someone in a 2024 incident
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New Mexico State Police said an officer killed a man during an exchange of gunfire Friday night in Los Lunas.
Officer Wilson Silver, a State Police spokesperson, said in a Saturday news release that 53-year-old Jesus Munoz-Duran was pronounced dead at the scene.
鈥淣o officers were injured during this incident. This incident remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Investigations Bureau,鈥� he said. The officer who shot Munoz-Duran was placed on paid leave pending the investigation.
Court records show Munoz-Duran was on probation stemming from a 2024 case where he pointed a firearm at a man during a dispute.
Silver said around 8:30 p.m. on Friday a State Police officer pulled over Munoz-Duran on Sierra Vista Drive in Meadow Lake. He said Munoz-Duran stepped out of his truck and 鈥減resented a pistol and fired it at the officer.鈥�
鈥淭he officer then returned fire from his duty firearm, striking Munoz. The officer rendered aid to Munoz until paramedics arrived,鈥� Silver said.
Munoz-Duran died at the scene.
鈥淪tate Police act solely as factfinders in their investigation and conduct an unbiased and impartial investigation,鈥� Silver said, adding that the agency 鈥渃ompiles facts as detailed as possible and forwards all reports to the appropriate district attorney for their review. State Police does not determine whether an officer鈥檚 actions were justified, this determination rests solely with the district attorney鈥檚 office.鈥�
