A state police car parked along a street in Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
A New Mexico State Police officer shot and killed a suspected jaywalker who allegedly fired at him during a foot chase over the weekend.
What we know:
According to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, the officer spotted the suspect, who was identified as Izeah Elajah-Amar Washington, and another man illegally crossing a two-lane road in Albuquerque shortly after noon on Saturday. When the officer got out of his vehicle and told the two men they were going to be detained, Washington did not stop and took off running after the officer told him again to stop, DPS alleged in its statement.
The officer chased down Washington and the two started struggling, at which point Washington is accused of pulling out a gun and firing at the officer, the statement continued. DPS stated that the officer, who was not hit, returned fire, striking the suspect at least once. Emergency personnel responded to the scene and rushed Washington to the hospital where he later died.
What we don't know:
DPS did not release any other information about the officer, who has been placed on standard administrative leave. The agency stated the officer’s name would not be released until later in the investigation process.
RELATED: Florida man accused of accessing women’s computers and making TikTok posts
Dig deeper:
Investigators have determined that the gun Washington is accused of firing was stolen, according to the statement.
The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau and a task force that includes the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and the Albuquerque Police Department are investigating the shooting.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. This story was reported from Orlando.