A prisoner shot twice at officers who then fired back at a parking area at Sandia Resort & Casino, as per recent information from New Mexico officials.
The suspected gunman, Nicolas Roach, 35, sustained injuries to his back, jaw, and right arm during the standoff on April 30, according to Albuquerque TV station KOAT.
Roach sustained severe injuries and spent 10 days in the hospital before being taken to a nearby jail.
According to initial reports, none of the four officers from the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) sustained any injuries.
Prior to the shootout, officers had been searching for Roach for several days. Just prior to the encounter, they noticed a questionable vehicle and verified the license plate. It was reported as stolen.
A newly published APD video revealed that Roach was operating the stolen Hyundai heading south from the casino. According to the police, Roach ran away upon noticing the officers and later drove into the casino parking lot.
He leaped out of the Hyundai and got into a different car. Roach declined to give in and began to flee, but officers managed to use a grappler on the tire, bringing it to a halt.
This was succeeded by a gunfire exchange.
"We knew he had warrants, and we knew the general area he operated in,” APD Commander Kyle Hartsock was quoted by KOAT about the apprehension. “It was at least several days that detectives working in specific operation plans and different hours of the day had been trying to locate him.”
According to police, Roach was sought on a warrant for breaching probation and was recognized as a car thief.
Two Females in a Car
Officers noticed two women in the halted SUV that Roach had been operating. The women left the car and gave themselves up in the parking area. According to the Albuquerque Journal, Amanda Hand, 34, faced charges for auto theft. The police did not reveal the identity of the second woman they detained.
Authorities reported finding a .45 caliber firearm in the SUV that Roach was driving during the shootout. According to New Mexico TV station KRQE, officers also discovered suspected methamphetamine (meth) and equipment recognized for use in auto theft inside the SUV.
Roach will be indicted and will confront legal action in a nearby court. According to the Journal, he had earlier spent time behind bars.
The Sandia Pueblo manages and runs the tribal gaming facility situated in Albuquerque.
Tougher Consequences Required
In light of the incident, APD Chief Harold Medina stated he would like the state to implement harsher penalties for auto theft.
“We need … assistance from … legislative bodies to make sure that individuals who are committing auto theft in order to use that motor vehicle to go commit other crimes have to be held to a higher level,” Medina told KOAT.
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