Investigators looking into Saturday’s officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Nathaniel Montoya have learned the suspect was armed with a .22 caliber gun that was modified and appears to resemble a shotgun.
Montoya was pronounced dead Saturday evening after a roughly 10-minute vehicle pursuit that began on Galina Drive and reached speeds of 50-60 miles per hour. The pursuit ended at the Valero’s Corner Store, 1401 E. Lohman Ave.
Montoya was the primary suspect in Friday evening’s shooting death of 29-year-old Abraham Gomez. A witness told investigators he saw Montoya and Gomez in a scuffle outside an apartment on the 2300 block of Sambrano Avenue. Montoya fled the scene before police arrived and Gomez was transported to MountainView Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. The investigation revealed that Gomez suffered one gunshot wound to his back.
Police learned that Montoya left the Sambrano address in a Dodge Durango but that vehicle was found laterFriday evening abandoned on Bataan Memorial East between Roadrunner Parkway and Rinconada Boulevard. A witness told officers that the driver of the Durango was seen entering a purple minivan before heading east along Highway 70.
On Saturday, at about noon, investigators learned that the minivan was reported stolen. Its owner indicated the vehicle was not running properly on Friday so it was left on the side of the road. Investigators have reason to believe Montoya exchanged batteries from his Durango into the minivan and was then able to steal it.
Shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday, an LCPD officer spotted Montoya driving the minivan on Galina Drive and initiated a traffic stop. The minivan briefly stopped but fled from the officer. The officer engaged in a pursuit that traveled south on Rinconada, south on Sonoma Ranch Boulevard and then west in the eastbound lanes of traffic on Lohman Avenue.
The pursuit continued west on Lohman until the minivan entered the parking lot of the Valero’s store and crashed into several vehicles at 1401 E. Lohman Ave. One of the officers pinned his unit to the driver’s side of the minivan, pinning the suspect vehicle’s passenger-side against a parked pickup.
Investigators learned that the officer exited his unit and gave several commands for Montoya to show his hands. The officer was in fear for his life and discharged several rounds. Montoya was struck and was subsequently pronounced dead on the scene.
The .22 caliber gun in Montoya’s possession was subsequently located between the two front seats of the minivan.
A 33-year-old pedestrian, standing between two vehicles in the Valero’s parking lot, was injured when the minivan struck several parked cars. Officers and a doctor who happened to be nearby provided first aid until the pedestrian was transported to a local hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening.
The officer who fired at Montoya is a seven-year veteran of the Las Cruces Police Department. Investigators learned the officer was not wearing a body camera at the time of the pursuit and shooting. As is standard protocol for such an incident, the officer has been placed on administrative leave. His name will be released upon completion of the investigation.
The Officer-Involved Incident Task Force is continuing to investigate the incident. The task force includes investigators from the Las Cruces Police Department, New Mexico State Police, New Mexico State University Police and the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office.
Information from Las Cruces Police