Jeremiah Medina, 31

Taos, New Mexico
March 14, 2020

Agencies: New Mexico State Police DPS

Cause of death: Shooting


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Last updated: over 3 years ago

Overview

State police shot and killed Jeremiah Medina, 31, after they say he shot at an officer once the chase ended.

No officers were injured.

State police Officers Edward Archie, Malik Mathews-Gordon, Christopher Romero and Sgt. Marco Oviedo were placed on leave.

Mathews-Gordon and Romero fired at Medina, but it’s unclear which officer’s bullets struck Medina, state police said.

The chase began when state police tried to pull over Medina’s vehicle around 4:20 p.m. on Rio Arriba County Road 57.

Medina made a U-turn on N.M. 291 and drove north on N.M. 68, where state police called off the chase because of road conditions and traffic.

Archie spotted Medina’s vehicle a short time later and reengaged the pursuit. Medina’s vehicle came to a stop after driving over tire deflation devices and crashing into an embankment.

As Oviedo approached the vehicle, Medina drove toward him, state police said.

Oviedo fired his shotgun at the vehicle, which continued north on N.M. 68.

The chase ended when Archie and another officer used a pursuit intervention technique. Medina’s vehicle came to rest on its roof.

State police said Medina brandished a handgun while his vehicle was overturned and shot at Mathews-Gordon. That’s when Mathews-Gordon and Romero opened fire.

Medics took Medina to Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, where he later died.