NMSP: Neighborhood shootout leaves 1 shot and killed by deputy, 1 arrested
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 two people, identified as Michael and Rebecca Gabaldon, calling about their neighbor, identified as Thomas Rodriguez, shooting a gun in his backyard in the 100 block of La Ladera.
Deputies arrived and got in touch with neighbors who reported seeing Rodriguez firing a rifle into the air outside of his home. Rodriguez reportedly barricaded in his home after ignoring commands from deputies who responded. Deputies formed a perimeter and tried getting in touch with his 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 Michael Gabaldon, who they say was upset and armed with a handgun after he said Rodriguez tried to run him over.
Gabaldon then reportedly went back into his home, while deputies tried to get Rodriguez out of his home. Deputies left to file charges against Rodriguez for the incident but then came back not long afterward to a reported shootout between him and Gabaldon.
Body camera video shows a deputy confronting Gabaldon, telling him to drop the gun. That is when they say a deputy shot him once in the right shoulder.
Gabaldon later died from his wound.
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.