Las Cruces police chief discusses March 13 shooting
Suspect remains hospitalized, faces multiple charges
Organ Mountain News report
LAS CRUCES - Police Chief Jeremy Story provided details Thursday on the March 13 shooting in which a Las Cruces police officer shot and injured a 19-year-old man on south Main Street.
The shooting happened shortly before 7 p.m. in the 800 block of South Main Street. Police said the suspect, Gabriel Padilla, was armed when the officer fired, striking him at least once. Padilla was taken to a hospital, where he remains in serious but stable condition.
Once released from the hospital, Padilla will be booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center. He is charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer, negligent use of a deadly weapon and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer.
The officer, who has seven years of law enforcement experience, joined the Las Cruces Police Department as a lateral transfer in August 2021. He was placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol.
Video of Thursday’s news conference is available on the city's YouTube channel and the Las Cruces Police Department’s Facebook page.