LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KRQE) – A Las Cruces police officer is now on administrative leave after shooting a man in the back after getting calls the suspect was shooting his gun at random.
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Las Cruces police were called to the Peter Piper Pizza near Lohman and Main Street last Thursday responding to reports of a man walking around with a gun.
Police arrived at the scene and that is when they came across 19-year-old Gabriel Padilla. When approached, police said Padilla took off. “He starts running southwest through the parking lot before heading south on main street running along the sidewalk. The officer can be heard yelling at the suspect to stop reaching as he’s chasing after him through the parking lot,” said Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story.
Padilla continued to run, but eventually fell with the gun still in his hand and an officer opened fire. Officers came in and placed cuffs on him. Padilla was shot at least once in the lower back and is expected to be okay. He was later charged with aggravated assault, negligent use of a firearm, and resisting and evading arrest.
“I don’t believe he had a valid concealed carry license, but he was, the negligent use would cover potentially the discharge that happened at Peter Piper,” said Chief Story.
Las Cruces police said a multi-agency task force is investigating the shooting as part of standard procedure to make sure the officer followed protocol.
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