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Johnny Ray Morales

Age : 28

Gender : Male

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 02/08/2026

Location : 1550 S Valley Drive

City : Las Cruces

County : Doña Ana

State : New Mexico

Agency : Las Cruces Police Department

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during alleged bicycle theft

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 02/08/2026, Johnny Ray Morales, a 28 year old man, was shot and killed on South Valley Drive in Las Cruces after an encounter with police that began when an officer working approved off duty employment at a Walmart was flagged down regarding a reported bicycle theft shortly before 7:30 a.m. The officer located Morales and attempted detention. Authorities reported Morales fired at least one round at the officer, who returned fire, and Morales continued on foot while additional officers established a perimeter. During subsequent exchanges of gunfire across multiple nearby locations along Valley Drive, Morales was struck and pronounced dead at the scene. A multi agency Officer Involved Incident Task Force including New Mexico State Police, Las Cruces Police, Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, and New Mexico State University Police assumed investigative responsibility for the shooting.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/las-cruces-police-identify-man-killed-in-officer-involved-shooting
https://www.koat.com/article/at-least-one-person-injured-after-shooting-involving-las-cruces-police/70279626
https://www.1045koolfm.com/2026/02/08/officer-involved-shooting-under-investigation/
https://www.krwg.org/krwg-news/2026-02-09/police-id-suspect-in-sundays-las-cruces-shooting