NMSP: Neighborhood shootout leaves 1 shot and killed by deputy, 1 arrested

NMSP: 1 dead in shooting involving Valencia County deputies

New Mexico State Police is investigating a shooting involving the Valencia County Sheriff's Office that left one man dead in Los Lunas.

LOS LUNAS, N.M. — New Mexico State Police is investigating a shooting involving the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office that left one man dead in Los Lunas.

Around 3:11 p.m. Sunday, Valencia County deputies responded to a report of gunshots in the 100 block of La Ladera. Deputies arrived and made contact with neighbors who reported seeing a man firing a rifle into the air outside of his home. That man, identified as Thomas Rodriguez, then barricaded in his home after ignoring commands from deputies who responded.

Deputies formed a perimeter and tried getting in touch with the man’s elderly mother who was in the home. After interviewing her, deputies assisted her with a petition to use red flag laws to remove firearms from her home and initiated the process.

About four hours later, around 7:42 p.m. Sunday, deputies responded again to the area regarding a disturbance. They arrived and found a neighbor who was upset and armed with a handgun after he said Rodriguez tried to run him over. Rodriguez eventually left his home and deputies filed charges.

Shortly after leaving, deputies came back to the same place regarding possible gunfire between the neighbor and Rodriguez. According to New Mexico State Police, deputies heard shots fired, coming from a disturbance earlier in the day. Deputies reportedly saw someone firing their weapon in the direction of another home. Then, a deputy fired their weapon, shooting and killing the neighbor.

They identified the neighbor as 51-year-old Michael Gabaldon.

After the shooting, SWAT arrested Rodriguez. He is now booked into the Valencia County Detention Center on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

All deputies are okay, according to NMSP.