Las Cruces police are actively investigating an officer-involved shooting that left one man dead and another person injured on Thursday morning. The incident took place on the 900 block of Walnut Street near Lynn Middle School, as reported by KFOX-TV. Authorities received the call at about 6:30 a.m. and have since been on the scene.
According to KTSM, the officer involved in the shooting was unharmed and has been placed on administrative leave as part of the standard procedure. This early in the investigation, the Las Cruces Police Department has not yet publicly confirmed the details surrounding the shooting. "The investigation is in its early stages, so details of what occurred are not yet known. Additional information will be made public at an appropriate time and as the investigation warrants," police stated.
In the wake of the shooting, traffic in the vicinity of the school has been impacted. A section of Walnut Street in front of Lynn Middle School remains closed to traffic. Students are being directed to the northwest side of the school, near the gymnasium, with access from Nevada Avenue for both bus and parent drop-offs. This logistical change ensures student safety while the on-site investigation continues.
The investigation of the shooting is being conducted by the Officer-involved Incident Task Force, which includes members from a variety of agencies such as the New Mexico State Police, Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office, and New Mexico State University Police. The task force is actively working to "thoroughly and transparently" disclose findings, as a spokesperson for the Las Cruces Police Department noted, as reported by KVIA. "The incident did not occur on the campus of Lynn Middle School," the spokesperson assured, suggesting the violence did not directly threaten students or staff at the middle school.
