CRIME
State Police shoot man who reportedly killed woman
Witnesses say man beat and choked Amity Maes, who was later found dead in the road
Published
Modified
MORA 鈥� The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is investigating after State Police officers shot a man accused of wielding a handgun during a traffic stop on Sunday along State Road 518, where witnesses said he had beaten and choked a woman found dead in the roadway.
Alejandro Vigil, 24, was hospitalized following the shooting and alleged domestic violence incident. He is charged with three counts of aggravated assault upon a peace officer, aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Officers responded just after 11 a.m. on Sunday to reports by a witness who said a man, believed to be Vigil, was in a silver Ford F-150 traveling northbound near milepost 29. The witness said Vigil was striking a woman, later identified as 34-year-old Amity Maes. A second witness reported seeing Maes attempt to exit the vehicle while the man held her in a headlock.
By the time law enforcement arrived, they said Maes was lying motionless in the roadway and medics later pronounced her dead at the scene.
Officers say Vigil returned to the scene just after noon but refused to stop for law enforcement, initiating a vehicle pursuit with State Police and the Mora County Sheriff鈥檚 Office.
New Mexico State Police Spokesperson Amanda Richards said Vigil led officers southbound on N.M. 518 before stopping near mile post 27 before emerging from his vehicle armed with a handgun.
鈥淭he investigation revealed that Vigil ignored repeated commands from officers to drop the weapon and subsequently pointed the firearm toward officers,鈥� Richards wrote in a press release issued Monday. 鈥淚n response, two New Mexico State Police officers discharged their duty weapons, striking Vigil.鈥�
Following the gunfire, the officers rendered aid to Vigil and had him transported to a nearby hospital, where his condition was unknown on Monday, according to police.
New Mexico State Police are withholding the identities of the officers who fired the shots until they can be interviewed about the incident. Both officers have been placed on administrative leave.
John Miller is the Journal鈥檚 northern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at jmiller@abqjournal.com.
