New Mexico State Police
A New Mexico State Police spokesman says the investigation is ongoing into the Rio Rancho Police officer-involved shooting in January.
Officer Dusty Francisco said State Police act as fact-finders only and don’t determine if officers were justified in such cases.
“That decision rests with the district attorney’s office,” he said in an email Thursday. “At the completion of the investigation, all reports, evidence and investigative findings will be shared with the district attorney’s office, as is normal business practice.”
Just after 10:30 p.m. Jan. 26, RRPD officers were called to a home in the 4600 block of Platinum Drive to intervene in domestic violence, according to a department news release from the following day. They found John Paul Romero, 42, threatening a family member with two knives and, after a Taser failed to stop him, they fired on him, according to the release.
Romero was pronounced dead at the scene, and two of his relatives were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries received before police arrived. The three officers involved were placed on administrative leave with pay during the investigation, which State Police are leading.
