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Published: 19 October 2017 19 October 2017

Silver City, NM/Grant County

On Thursday, October 5, 2017, around 2:00 a.m., the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was requested to investigate an officer-involved shooting in Silver City, New Mexico.

New Mexico State Police investigators responded and learned that around 1:10 a.m., Grant County Regional Dispatch was notified to be on the lookout for a white 2002 Toyota 4-Runner recently taken from Las Cruces. Dispatchers learned the vehicle was driven by 41 year-old Michael Aguirre of Silver City who had cut off a court ordered ankle monitor in Las Cruces, attacked his mother, and stole her vehicle. (This portion of the investigation is being handled by the Las Cruces Police Department.)

At around 1:22 a.m., deputies located the vehicle and got into a short pursuit, the pursuit was eventually assumed by Silver City Police Department. During the pursuit Mr. Aguirre turned onto Casa Loma Road and executed a U-turn. Officer Javier Hernandez, a three-year veteran of the force, observed Mr. Aguirre's vehicle travelling toward his vehicle. Officer Hernandez stated at the time he was in fear for his life and that of other officers, and fired at Mr. Aguirre striking him in the neck. Mr. Aguirre's vehicle struck Officer Hernandez's patrol car. He was taken into custody by the officers. Mr. Aguirre was transported to University Medical Center in El Paso by air ambulance for non-life-threatening injuries.

On October 18, 2017, Mr. Aguirre was transported from University Medical Center and booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center on charges of Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer, Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer with a Deadly Weapon, and Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.

This incident is being investigated by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau, with no further information available at this time. Upon completion of this investigation, the case will be forwarded to an assigned district attorney for review.