Video shows officer blindsided in fatal shooting (NMSP officer shot dead at traffic stop)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | April 9, 2021 | Matthew Reisen

[CedarDave]

Minutes after State Police officer Darian Jarrott pulled over Omar Cueva along Interstate 10 east of Deming, he noticed a firearm in the truck.

“Do you mind if I take it off you, for my safety?” Jarrott asks through the passenger side window.

The officer never got the chance.

As the two men walk to the back of the truck, Cueva raises the rifle and shoots an unsuspecting Jarrott. The officer falls to the ground, reaching for his gun, and Cueva moves around the truck, shooting him several more times.

Cueva puts the rifle to the back of Jarrott’s head and fires once more before he jumps into the truck and speeds off down the highway.

On Friday State Police released lapel and dash cam footage and details of the Feb. 4 fatal shooting of the 28-year-old Lordsburg native, a father of three who had a fourth child on the way.

The man who shot him, 39-year-old Cueva, was killed in a gunfight with authorities in Las Cruces soon after. Jarrott was the first New Mexico State Police officer shot and killed in the line of duty in more than 30 years.

The dash camera footage shows the two men walk to the back of the truck, Cueva holding an AR-15 style rifle in one hand and what looks like a walkie-talkie or police scanner in the other.

Without warning Cueva raises the rifle and opens fire, shooting Jarrot multiple times as vehicles drive by on the highway.

State Police spokesman Ray Wilson said State Police officers Lionel Palomares and Sonny Montes caught up to Cueva headed east on I-10 and Cueva pulled over and fired at the officers. Both officers fired back at Cueva who got back into the truck and continued east.

[CedarDave]

When Cueva reached Las Cruces authorities with the Las Cruces Police Department, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Border Patrol joined the pursuit. Spike strips were used on the truck near the I-10 Picacho exit but were ineffective. An LCPD officer used the PIT maneuver on the vehicle but Cueva jumped out and shot that officer (the officer was flown to El Paso and survived). Finally Cueva was struck several times by gunfire from the assembled officers and died at the scene.

[CedarDave]

This screenshot from a State Police dash cam video shows Omar Cueva pointing an AR-15 rifle at State Police officer Darian Jarrott moments before shooting him on Feb. 4. (Source: New Mexico State Police)

The graphic videos released show all interactions with the officer and include his last words when he was shot.

[CedarDave]

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[fwdude]

Why post a story from a site with a paywall?

[arthurus]

I encountered no paywall. Went straight to the article and video.

[fwdude]

Do you have a subscription to this site?

[cornfedcowboy]

I got a paywall using the phone.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

So what was the purpose of this murder?

Did he have a warrant?
Illegal?

[Roman_War_Criminal]

I saw videos and I don’t have a subscription.

[fwdude]

I guess the website is device-sensitive then. On a tablet and can’t access the story.

[Wayne07]

The man who shot him, 39-year-old Cueva, was killed in a gunfight with authorities in Las Cruces soon after. Jarrott was the first New Mexico State Police officer shot and killed in the line of duty in more than 30 years.
 
State Police had previously said that, at the time of the traffic stop, Jarrott was assisting HSI with an investigation and Cueva was on his way to do a “drug buy.” Cueva had previously served time in prison in California on drug charges after he was caught with 15 pounds of methamphetamine and a loaded assault rifle, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

Thanks!

[dragnet2]

Paywall

No bueno!

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Bless his heart! 🙁 Ugh! That was hard to watch.

I don’t know police protocol in that area...but why didn’t he secure the weapon before the dude got out of the truck? Did he have more than one firearm?

[RC one]

I watched it just fine. I guess that Mexican boy didn’t like the idea of handing over his rifle to the police.

[fwdude]

I had to find it on YouTube.

[pilgrim]

Try this?

https://outline.com/z7x2yC

[fwdude]

Wow, the officer was exceedingly nice and reasonable. Perhaps too much.

[hank ernade]

paywall

[RWGinger]

So the former convict had a gun.
But let’s enact laws that make it hard for legal people.