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Jose Angel Baca

Age : 28

Gender : Male

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 09/03/2021

Location : NM-314 and Davila Road

City : Los Lunas

County : Valencia

State : New Mexico

Agency : Valencia County Sheriff’s Office; New Mexico State Police

Officer(s) :Wilson Silver; VCSO deputies Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during pursuit and exchange of gunfire

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 09/03/2021, 28-year-old Jose Angel Baca was shot and killed by a New Mexico State Police officer and Valencia County sheriff’s deputies after an encounter near State Road 6 developed into a shooting, police pursuit and second exchange of gunfire near State Road 314 and Trujillo Road.
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At approximately 3 p.m., two Valencia County deputies responded to a report of two suspicious people near mile marker 19 on State Road 6. Deputies found a black Hyundai that police determined was stolen and displayed a stolen license plate. The deputies separated while searching for the two people.
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One deputy returned to the Hyundai and encountered Baca and a woman near the stolen vehicle and a white Dodge pickup. Body-camera footage showed Baca holding what appeared to be a metal chain. The deputy ordered Baca to comply and then fired a Taser at him. Police said the Taser was ineffective.
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The deputy attempted to physically restrain Baca and prevent him from entering the Hyundai. The deputy then backed away, and gunfire was exchanged. Police said Baca shot the deputy in the leg. Body-camera footage showed the wounded deputy crawling back to his patrol vehicle, applying a tourniquet to his leg and radioing for assistance.
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Baca and the woman left in the white Dodge pickup. Additional Valencia County deputies and New Mexico State Police officers located the truck and pursued it east on State Road 6 through Los Lunas.
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Police video showed the Dodge traveling at high speed through heavy traffic on Main Street. Police said Baca drove against traffic and caused several crashes before turning onto State Road 314.
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Baca stopped near the railroad tracks at State Road 314 and Trujillo Road. Video showed him get out of the Dodge and fire at a Valencia County sheriff’s sergeant standing outside his patrol vehicle. The sergeant returned fire.
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Police video showed Baca continue firing while advancing around the sergeant’s patrol vehicle toward the driver’s side. Another Valencia County deputy and New Mexico State Police Officer Wilson Silver arrived and fired at Baca while Baca continued shooting toward the sergeant.
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Baca was struck by police gunfire beside the sergeant’s vehicle and died at the scene. The Office of the Medical Investigator pronounced him dead.
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New Mexico State Police identified Wilson Silver as the state officer who fired. The Valencia County Sheriff’s Office did not publicly identify the sheriff’s deputies who fired in the state police releases.
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The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau investigated the shooting. The investigation incorporated body-camera and other video documenting the initial Taser deployment, first exchange of gunfire, pursuit and final shooting.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
New Mexico State Police Officer Wilson Silver was one of the officers who shot Baca. The Valencia County sheriff’s sergeant and additional deputy who fired were not publicly named in the state police investigative releases.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/suspect-killed-valencia-co-sheriff-deputies-injured-near-los-lunas/
https://www.cibolacitizen.com/news/nmsp-investigates-ois-involving-nmsp-and-valencia-county-sheriffs-office
https://www.krwg.org/regional/2021-09-16/update-fatal-police-shooting-of-los-lunas-man
https://www.dps.nm.gov/blog/2021/09/03/update-2-nmsp-investigates-ois-involving-nmsp-and-valencia-county-sheriffs-office/