An officer-involved shooting involving the Roswell Police Department occurred Thursday about 11:20 a.m. on South Sunset Avenue near West McGaffey Street on the city’s west side. RPD detectives had just spotted 27 year old Javier Harvey Salinas Junior driving a vehicles on South Sunset Avenue near West Poe Street. According to a statement provided by the department’s public information officer, Todd Wildermuth, those detectives knew that Salinas had a warrant out for his arrest for murder and other crimes. Salinas was wanted for the shooting of 21 year old Nicals Elijah Montoya that occurred on March 29th on the city’s east side. Two other men have already been arrested in the case.
As the detectives attempted to stop Salinas, he sped off at more thsn 100 miles-per-hour, crashing in a yard on South Sunset near McGaffey. Salinas then got out of the car, firing gunshots at the detectives. Detectives returned fire, striking Salinas, who continued to run a short distance between two buildings. He was found dead there.
The case has been turned over to New Mexico State Police. No RPD personnell were injured.