State police investigating Española shooting by officers
Mar. 29—New Mexico State Police said they are investigating a shooting Tuesday night in which Española police shot a man who was armed with a rifle.
Española police received reports at about 7 p.m. of a Ford F-150 truck parked in the road, blocking traffic in front of the Century Bank on North Riverside Drive, state police said in a news release Wednesday.
Officers found the truck facing the opposite way of traffic. The driver, 56-year-old Hilario Baca of Velarde, was armed with a rifle, according to the release.
Baca raised his rifle at officers approaching the vehicle and ignored commands to drop the weapon, state police said. One of the officers fired his gun at Baca, striking him at least once.
Baca was taken to a local hospital and later airlifted to one in Albuquerque. State police said his condition is unknown and referred questions on the charges Baca will face to the Española Police Department. The Española officers were not injured, state police said.
Española police Chief Mizel Garcia did not respond to a request for comment on Baca's charges late Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, Garcia said he could not provide details on the incident until state police "complete their part" of the investigation. He confirmed two officers have been placed on paid administrative leave but declined to provide their names until they are interviewed by state police.
