New Mexico State Police officer shot, killed during traffic stop; suspect also dead

DEMING, N.M. — A police officer and a suspect are dead after gunfire erupted during a traffic stop in New Mexico, authorities said.

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According to KFOX-TV, the deadly shooting occurred Thursday on Interstate 10 near Deming. In a Facebook post, New Mexico State Police said one of the department’s officers, 28-year-old Darian Jarrott, was in the area helping Homeland Security Investigations when he stopped a white pickup truck driven by Omar Felix Cueva, 39, near mile marker 101. Cueva then fired at Jarrott, killing the officer, police said.

After Cueva fled the scene, another state police officer spotted the suspect near mile marker 116, according to the Facebook post. Cueva pulled over and again began shooting at police, who fired back, authorities said. State police and other law enforcement agencies, including the Las Cruces Police Department, the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Border Patrol, continued to follow Cueva until authorities were able to stop him using a pursuit intervention technique, or PIT, maneuver near mile marker 140, the post said.

“As the pickup came to a stop, Cueva exited the vehicle armed with a firearm and shot multiple rounds toward the officers and deputies,” the Facebook post read. “Officers from LCPD, NMSP, DASO, and USBP returned fire toward Cueva, who was struck at least once.”

Cueva died at the scene, authorities said. A Las Cruces police officer also suffered a gunshot wound and was flown to a Texas hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Facebook post.

Jarrott, who joined New Mexico State Police in July 2015, is survived by three small children and had been expecting a fourth, the post said.

“Out of respect for Officer Jarrott, please refrain from contacting his family as they mourn the loss of our fallen hero,” the department added.

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Cox Media Group