Las Cruces officer on leave after shooting
Nov 15, 2024
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — One of the officers who was involved in an officer-involved shooting this past Monday, Nov. 11, in Las Cruces has been placed on administrative leave, Las Cruces Chief of Police Jeremy Story said.
Story held a press conference on Friday morning, Nov. 15, and gave more details on the officer-involved shooting including part of the 911 call that was placed that Monday, and also showed the body camera footage from the two officers who responded to the scene. The officer who ended up firing his weapon was placed on standard administrative leave, Story said.
Story said at around 10:30 p.m. that Monday, a "subject with a gun" 911 call was placed by a man who was living at an apartment complex located at 1301 S. Espina St.
The caller told police that the suspect, Danny Garcia De Leon, 50, had a gun and a bow. The caller also said that De Leon was screaming. De Leon also pointed the gun at the caller at one point, Story said.
Danny De Leon, 50. Photo: Dona Ana County Detention Center.
When officers arrived at the scene, De Leon had a knife in his hand but he ended up dropping the knife and went inside an apartment located on the first floor.
De Leon then stepped outside of the apartment and had a gun in his hand before closing the door for a second time, Story said.
De Leon then opened the door for a third time which is when the officer-involved shooting happened. The officer that was placed on administrative leave was standing behind a Dumpster when he fired his weapon, which was 60-70 feet away from De Leon.
Graphic shows the distance between De Leon and the officer who fired his weapon.
Body camera footage shows the moment after the officer fired his weapon and standing behind the dumpster.
Photos: Las Cruces Police press conference
After the shooting, De Leon closed the door again but eventually came out of the apartment and surrendered, Story said.
It was later discovered that the gun De Leon was using was a "replica firearm" and Story said it was impossible to tell that the gun was fake by just looking at it.
The "replica" gun that was in De Leon's possesion. Photos: Las Cruces Police press conference
Story also said there was a suspicion that De Leon was under the influence of alcohol based on the circumstances at the scene.
De Leon was provided medical attention on scene and was transported to a local hospital. He was later released from the hospital and was then booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
De Leon was charged with one count of aggravated assault on a peace officer and one count of aggravated assault. He was later released from custody that same Tuesday on a personal-recognizance bond.
Story said De Leon was in custody for 12 hours on two felony charges which is a "significant problem and continues to highlight the issues with our system."