A Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputy was fatally shot by a fellow deputy while staying at a Las Cruces hotel, authorities said.
Attorney John Day has identified the suspected shooter as Ty Chan, 27, who has been with the department for three years. Day will represent Chan.
Day also identified the deceased deputy as Jeremy Martin. He was 29 years old.
The two deputies started arguing just after midnight and the fight escalated, according to KOAT Action 7 News.
They were staying at Hotel Encanto de las Cruces, which bills itself as a sophisticated Spanish Colonial landmark hotel, after extraditing a prisoner to Arizona. The prisoner was not with the deputies at the time of the shooting.
According to police the two deputies had been drinking prior to the fight and shooting and that Jeremy Martin had several gunshot wounds to back and arms.
At a Tuesday news conference Santa Fe County Sheriff Robert Garcia was quite emotional as he gave his remarks, “This has been a major shock to this agency and my staff,” Garcia said. “I never thought it would be two from within my own agency.”
The sheriff described deputy Martin as a hard working law enforcement officer. He also said that he had spoken the victim’s widow Tuesday morning. Martin leaves behind three children.
We join the sheriff in asking prayer for the family and the Santa Fe sheriff’s department. Everyone is understandably shocked and saddened by this tragedy.
