Mayor Payne Speaks on Federal Trial of Jonah Apodaca and Upcoming Trial of the Alleged Murderer of Officer Anthony Ferguson

Alamogordo's 27-year-old Dominic Cruz De La O appeared in federal court Wednesday on a federal charge of possession of an unregistered weapon made from a shotgun. Additionally, he is scheduled for a November 4th, 2024 murder trial of Alamogordo Officer Anthony Ferguson.

Accused Murderer Dominic De La O

Officer Anthony Ferguson was an 11-year veteran of the Alamogordo Police Department and served in the Patrol Division as a Field Training Officer.

Decorated Officer Anthony Ferguson

De La O with a history of criminal activity is accused of shooting and killing Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson during a traffic stop on July 15, 2023 with a sawed off 12-guage shotgun. The weapon thought to be used by De La O was an unregistered modified 12-gauge shotgun. According to the federal complaint, the barrel length of the shotgun was 16 inches and appeared to have been altered. The shotgun stock had been removed and replaced with a pistol grip.

Jonah Apodaca, 31, handed over a “sawed-off” shotgun to Dominic Cruz De La O, which he is accused of later using to shoot Ferguson, according to court documents. Officials said they found Apodaca’s DNA on the shotgun shell recovered from the chamber of the shotgun and ammunition from the magazine tube.

Jonah Apodaca Sentenced to 72 months for supplying murder weapon to De La O

In June 2024, Apodaca pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to the unregistered weapon. He was sentenced to 72 months in prison, and when he is released, he will have to undergo three years of supervised release.

De La O was charged with possession of a firearm not registered with the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record and possession of a firearm not identified by a serial number. De La O remains in custody pending trial, which is currently scheduled to begin Federal Court Feb. 26, 2025.  The murder trial of De La O accused De La O of murdering Officer Ferguson, 41, is scheduled to begin November 4th, 2024.  The docket call begins November 1st at the Otero County Courthouse with the murder trial to begin November 4th, 2024.

Mayor Susan Payne says she will be at the trial in support of the memory of Officer Ferguson. An interview with Mayor Susan Payne for AlamogordoTownNews.org on streaming KALHRadio.org, concerning the sentencing of Jonah Apodaca, and the upcoming trial of Dominic Cruz De La O can be heard live streaming or via the podcast below:

https://youtu.be/Mmy0wq1bLYg?si=kAk6ySmcy41Zsqmb

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