A man wanted in the attempted murder of a New Mexico State Police Officer was captured Tuesday afternoon by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
Fernando Leon Silva, 40, was captured after a nearly 24-hour search. He is accused of firing more than 50 rounds of ammunition with an AR-15-style rifle at a New Mexico State Police Officer during a routine traffic stop.
“He was apprehended in San Juan County,” said Lt. Phil Vargas of the New Mexico State Police.
The officer attempted to make a traffic stop Monday at 7:32 p.m. in the area of Pinon Hills Boulevard and West 30th Street. The driver of a black Chrysler 300 allegedly was traveling at a high rate of speed.
Silva reportedly got out of the car armed with the rifle and began firing toward the officer, according to a news release from the New Mexico State Police.
The officer returned safely to his vehicle and made a U-turn to pursue Silva, but the patrol unit “became disabled during the chase,” the news release said.
Silva reportedly continued west on Pinon Hills Boulevard and 30th Street, and the officer lost visual contact of the Chrysler 300, the report states.
“Our officers face unpredictable dangers every day, and last night’s events in Farmington are yet another sobering reminder of that reality,” said State Police Chief Troy Weisler. “We are grateful no lives were lost, and no one was injured.”
San Juan County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Kevin Burns told the Tri-City Record Tuesday evening that it was too soon in the investigation for a public statement about the case.
Silva has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, shooting from a motor vehicle and two counts of aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer.
This article will be updated when additional information becomes available.
