Christoval Quintana, 30

Roswell, New Mexico
October 21, 2013

Agencies: New Mexico State Police DPS

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

State police spokesman Sgt. Emmanuel Gutierrez says the shooting happened Monday morning following a four-mile chase along U.S. 285 south of Roswell.

Gutierrez says the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Christoval Quintana of Lovington, began shooting at officers and sheriff's deputies after his vehicle was stopped by spike strips. Quintana was killed when officers returned fire.

Gutierrez says Quintana had a violent criminal history and was on federal probation.

Following the shooting and a subsequent crash, Gutierrez says a Roswell police officer was critically wounded while directing traffic south of the shooting scene. The officer was transported to a Texas hospital.

James Cupp, who shot the home video from his phone Monday morning, said he didn't even realize what he was witnessing for a few minutes. The state police car in front of him was going so slow along US 285 he thought someone's vehicle was breaking down, not that a violent shootout was about to occur.

"OK, we're on a slow speed chase," Cupp is heard saying on the phone video. "We've got traffic on both sides blocked off."

Cupp said he traveled for about four miles like this, with the getaway car moving at a snail's pace.

"For some reason, this guy wouldn't go any faster than five miles per hour," he said.