Alamogordo, NM - On January 31, 2019 shortly after 11:00 p.m., New Mexico State Police uniformed officers in Alamogordo were alerted to a silver GMC SUV that fled the U.S. Border Patrol check point on U.S. 70 and was being pursued by Border Patrol and Otero County Sherriff's deputies towards Alamogordo.

The New Mexico State Police responded to assist in the pursuit. During the course of the pursuit, which led officers through Alamogordo city limits and was ultimately contained on the Alamogordo bypass, suspects in the GMC fired multiple gunshots on several occasions from the vehicle towards officers and deputies.

A New Mexico State Police officer continued to pursue the vehicle on the Alamogordo bypass around mile post 4 where the suspects again fired at the State Police officer. At some point during the exchange the State Police officer discharged his department issued rifle. The State Police officers were able to successfully employ a pursuit intervention technique on the fleeing vehicle and bring the pursuit to a safe end with no injuries to officers or suspects. Otero County Sheriff's Office and Alamogordo DPS assisted in taking LaBruce Powell (35) and Travis Powell (31) both of Alamogordo, into custody without further incident.

LaBruce Powell was charged with the following crimes:

  • Shooting at or from a Motor Vehicle (2 counts)
  • Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (5 counts)
  • Criminal Damage to Property over $1000

Travis Powell was charged with the following crimes:

  • Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer
  • Reckless Driving

The investigation is active with officers still to be interviewed by New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau. The State Police officer who fired his weapon has been placed on standard administrative leave. No additional information is currently available to include the officers name and the details of the shooting which will be released via press release as it becomes available.

Through investigation it was also revealed that the suspect vehicle matched the description of a vehicle involved in an earlier aggravated battery with a deadly weapon incident involving the Alamogordo DPS where it was reported the suspects were firing a weapon from the vehicle at officers and civilians in Alamogordo. For information on the earlier incident please contact the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety at (575) 439-4300.

image005 1Travis Powell

image003 1LaBruce Powell