New Mexico State Police involved in OIS in Truth or Consequences

On May 6th, 2025, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau (IB) was requested to investigate an officer-involved shooting involving New Mexico State Police (NMSP).

State Police agents learned that on May 6th, 2025, at around 12:09 p.m., a New Mexico State Police officer conducted a traffic stop on a white GMC pickup truck driven by 75-year-old Dennis Ritchie Jones of Las Cruces. The officer had run a query on the license plate and learned that Jones had an active arrest warrant for a probation violation out of Arizona for sexual assault.

During the traffic stop, an altercation ensued, and the officer fired at least one round from his duty-issued pistol in Jones’s direction. Jones remained in the vehicle and fled from the scene, and a pursuit ensued onto NM Highway 181, north of Truth or Consequences. The officer caught up to the vehicle, which had stopped in the middle of High Winds Road. The officer gave commands to Jones, who then began firing at the officer. The officer returned fire with his duty-issued rifle. After the exchange of gunfire, officers approached the vehicle and located Jones unresponsive.

Jones was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. The officer was uninjured.

The identity of the NMSP officer will not be released until interviews are completed. The officer has been placed on standard administrative leave. New Mexico State Police act solely as factfinders in their investigation and conduct an unbiased and impartial investigation. In officer-involved shootings, NMSP thoroughly documents the scene, collects evidence, and interviews officers, subjects, and witnesses. In turn, NMSP compiles facts as detailed as possible and forwards all reports to the appropriate district attorney for their review. The New Mexico State Police does not determine whether an officer’s actions were justified; this determination rests solely with the district attorney’s office.

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