New Mexico Officer Killed Is Identified, Suspect In Custody

A New Mexico Officer who was killed recently has been identified.

The Daily News is reporting that New Mexico officer Gregg Nigel Benner, 49, was shot and killed while performing a traffic stop outside of Albuquerque. Benner, a four-year New Mexico officer in the Rio Rancho police force, was a father of five adult children, and a veteran of the Air Force. Benner was shot outside the city’s library at about 8 p.m. near Southern Boulevard and Pinetree Road.

Benner, shot down during Memorial Day, was the first Rio Rancho, New Mexico officer shot and killed in the 34-year history of the department.

The situation began as an attempted traffic stop at the local Arby’s. The suspects, a man and a woman, fled in a brownish-grey 1999 Dodge Durango before pulling over at the Esther Bone Memorial Library, where the altercation became violent, and shots were fired.

Other New Mexico officers responded to the “Officer Down!!” call over the radio. Two suspects were arrested at around 3:30 am, approximately 20 miles south of Albuquerque. Only one was wanted in connection with the shooting, however.

KOB 4 is reporting that the city is mourning the loss of its first officer. “Officer Benner was a dedicated military veteran and law enforcement officer and his tragic death is deeply saddening to the tight-knit community of Rio Rancho,” Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull said in a statement. “The City of Rio Rancho mourns his untimely death and I urge community members to keep Officer Benner’s family in their thoughts and prayers. Our police officers hold a special place in our hearts as they lay their lives on the line every day protecting our safety and this is a stark reminder of their sacrifice.”

After being shot, Benner received treatment at the scene, and was then transported to University of New Mexico hospital, where he passed away.

The police reported that New Mexico officers arrested the suspect at the Valero gas station near Rio Bravo and Broadway.

A witness to the crime, a high-school student, saw part of the interaction between Benner and the suspects.

“There was four shots, just went pop, pop, pop, pop?four real quick shots. And I was looking that direction, you know right away… it’s like, where’s it coming from, and then I looked a little bit closer to me, and then that’s when I saw the actual person giving him CPR and some dude laying on the ground,” Elijah Ortiz Y Pino said.

There will be a special candlelight vigil held at 8 p.m. at Haynes Park tonight for the New Mexico officer. All local Wells Fargo locations have set up a “Officer Gregg Benner Memorial Fund.”

[Image courtesy of the New York Daily News]