New Mexico State Police Issues a Vague Statement in Elijah Hadley Deputy Involved Shooting

The State of New Mexico continues to investigate an officer-involved shooting in Otero County near the Mescalero Apache Reservation where a teenager was shot and killed after allegedly pointing an airsoft gun at a Sheriff’s deputy, the New Mexico Department of Public Safety said in an update issued on Tuesday, Aug. 27.

The update was confusing with an incorrect date. The victims name was left off the statement though it was on the initial release announcement of the investigation even though the victim was a 17 year old minor.

The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau has completed and submitted a case file to the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Alamogordo about the case, NMSP release said.

The case has also been assigned to the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Bernalillo County for further review as confirmed by them. 

The New Mexico state police did not mention teenager Elijah Hadley by name during their update sent out to media but did confirm to media that this is the case they are referring to via the release. 

On June 15th, though the release mistakenly said on June 25th, an Otero County Sheriff’s Office deputy was conducting a welfare check on a person walking along U.S. Highway 70 near mile marker 240.

According to an initial release sent out by NM State Police at the time, a 17-year-old — later identified as Elijah Hadley — was holding an airsoft gun and pointed it at the deputy, who then fired “at least” one round from his duty weapon. Hadley was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was shot 19 times according to multiple reports and had released the gun then shot 14 additional times as seen in a video released and reported by the Albuquerque Journal. 

NM Public Safety Secretary Jason R. Bowie, along with NM State Police command staff and a representative from the Governor’s Office, met with Mescalero Apache leaders on Aug. 15 to update them on the case, according to the news release sent out by NMDPS.

“We are committed to delivering an accurate account of the events and it is our priority to ensure a comprehensive and unbiased investigation,” Bowie said. “Open communication with tribal leadership and the family members are essential for building and maintaining strong, trust-based relationships between the police and the communities they serve.”

“Our goal is to ensure the community has confidence in the process,” said NMSP Chief W. Troy Weisler. “We ask the community to be patient as we work through the process.”

Key aspects of the investigation require additional analysis and are still pending from the Department of Public Safety Laboratory and the Office of the Medical Investigator, NMDPS said.

A petition continues to circulate online requesting the resignation of the yet to be named deputy and of sheriff Black for failure of communication and transparency...

https://www.change.org/p/remove-otero-county-sheriff-david-black-from-o…

The sister of Elijah Hadley; Katie Rose, has a memorial walk scheduled for September 7th at 7 pm beginning at the Catholic Church in Bent. T-shirts in the memory of Elijah Hadley will be given to the first 70 people to come yo the march. Balloons in his memory will be released in his memory. 

The family has not issued a statement nor tribal leaders in response to the investigations most recent news release. 

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