Omar Felix Cueva Wiki – Omar Felix Cueva Biography
Omar Felix Cueva in the Deming area Thursday while assisting with a Department of Homeland Security operation. Thornton said Cueva fired at least one shot, striking Jarrott.
Cueva drove off, but other NMSP officers were able to locate him and pursue him on Interstate 10. Police got Cueva’s vehicle to stop after using a PIT maneuver near Las Cruces.
Las Cruces Police spokesperson Dan Trujillo confirmed they are assisting New Mexico State Police on I-10 and have closed all of I-10 in both directions from Exit 142 at University Avenue to Exit 135 near West Picacho Avenue. Law enforcement says I-10 is closed at MP 101 in Luna County. Motorists should expect significant delays as the investigation continues.
Omar Felix Cueva Age
Omar Felix Cueva was 39 years old.
Victim
Jarrott leaves behind three children and had another baby on the way, officials said. He became a law enforcement officer in 2014.
According to investigators, Jarrott was shot after pulling over a white pick-up truck along I-10 East near Deming early Thursday afternoon.
After shooting the officer, authorities said the driver of the truck — identified by state police as Omar Felix Cueva — led law enforcement on a chase that ended in a highway shootout with Las Cruces Police.
The man behind the video is Las Cruces resident Austin Contreras who says he saw everything.
“Before it was even stopped like it was still sliding and he jumped out and started shooting at the cops,” said Contreras.
Contreras says he was working near I-10 and started recording when he saw the freeway being blocked off.
“Like now being hours later everything sets in and I mean it’s scary any of us could of died,” said Contreras.
Another man who lives nearby where the shooting happened tells KTSM he heard everything.
“I was standing outside my house and I just heard pop,pop, pop, pop, pop a bunch of gunshots. and came over to where it happened here on I-10 and the body was laying on the road,” said Mark Hines who lives nearby. “It was pretty scary I don’t think anybody likes to hear that.”
Arrested – Charge
Cueva was shot and died at the scene. An LCPD officer was wounded in the exchange of gunfire but has since been released from the hospital, according to officials.
KTSM obtained a dramatic (but graphic) video of the ending to the chase. You can it see here.
During a news conference late Thursday night, state police said Cueva was on his way to Las Cruces to engage in a drug deal and had a criminal record to include drug trafficking charges.
Investigation Report
On Thursday, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced she will order all flags to half-staff in the state of New Mexico in honor of the officer who was killed.
“I am shocked, heartbroken, and enraged by the loss of this public servant,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “I am praying for the local officer who was also shot and injured.”
Lujan Grisham said the investigation continues and she intends to get all the facts about the incident.
“But what we know right now is a New Mexico law enforcement officer has been killed in the line of duty and I am horrified as we grieve another life cut down, another family crushed by senseless violence in our state,” she said. “Violent crime is a scourge on New Mexico, and the men and women who step up and put on the badge to protect our communities fight it with everything they’ve got every day. We are and must remain grateful for their heroic service every single day – and moments like this remind us why. The New Mexico State Police put their lives on the line to help keep us safe. I join all New Mexico and the New Mexico State Police community in grieving this senseless, heinous loss.”
Flags will be ordered to be flown at half-staff from Friday, Feb. 5, through sundown Tuesday, Feb. 9.