Angel Fire, NM - On May 5, 2019, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was called to investigate a police shooting involving the Angel Fire Police Department.

The initial investigation indicates that on May 5, 2019 Officer Mark Fitch of the Angel Fire Police Department responded to a residential structure fire at 14 Mountain Lake Terrace in Angel Fire, NM.  At the scene of the residential fire, Officer Fitch encountered George Herrera of Angel Fire. 

Mr. Herrera was armed with a knife and began to walk towards Officer Fitch with the knife in his hands. Officer Fitch gave Mr. Herrera verbal commands to put down the knife. Mr. Herrera continued walking towards Officer Fitch, who then fired his duty weapon one time fatally striking Mr. Herrera.   

First responders at the scene provided first aid to Mr. Herrera and transported him by ground ambulance to the Angel Fire Airport for intercept with an air ambulance. Mr. Herrera died prior to being flown to a hospital and was pronounced deceased by the Office of the Medical Investigator. 

After the fire was extinguished and during the fire investigation the body of Mr. Herrera’s wife Diane Herrera, was discovered in the residence. The Office of the Medical Investigator is still working to determine the cause and manner of Mrs. Herrera’s death.

Officer Fitch has five years experience in law enforcement. He has been with the Angel Fire Police Department for two years, with three years prior law enforcement experience in the military. He is retired from the military after a thirty year career.  

State Police agents are working with the State Fire Marshal’s Office to determine the cause of the fire.  There is currently no additional information available.