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A man found dead after a shootout with police in Dulce on Sunday morning was identified by the state Office of the Medical Investigator as Rex Michael Sherwood, 48, the same fugitive who, on July 10, had a shootout with officers before retreating into the wilderness.
Rex Michael Sherwood
New Mexico State Police Lt. Robert McDonald said the investigation would con tinue to determine the cause of death.
Jicarilla Tribal Police were called to the 64-Express Gas Station in Dulce, which is on tribal land, for a breakin, according to a statement by McDonald. A witness described the suspect as a tall, thin man in a blue jacket who was
carrying a backpack and a rifle. No one else was inside the building, McDonald said.
The description was similar to that of Sherwood’s from the earlier shooting.
Tribal police were joined by State Police. They surrounded the building and shots were fired from within the building at the officers. Two State Police officers and one Jicarilla officer returned fire.
No one outside was hurt in the shooting, but four police vehicles were hit by bullets.
State Police and San Juan County tactical teams were dispatched to the scene and the FBI also gave assistance.
At 11:45 a.m., police sent a remote-controlled robot into the building. A dead man was found lying on the floor inside the gas station.
Sherwood allegedly told Jicarilla Police that they would have to shoot him when they attempted to pull his delivery truck over along U.S. 64. Sherwood drove a short distance then got out and fired about 40 shots from an automatic rifle at officers, who were not injured. The tribal police were joined by a State Police sergeant, who could not fire because he was behind the tribal officers. Sherwood ran off into nearby hills, still firing his weapon.
He was last seen near Moreno near the U.S. 84 intersection between Dulce and Chama.
District Attorney Angela “Spence” Pacheco said Sherwood had a Pembroke, N.H., address on his driver’s license. The truck has a New Hampshire license plate.
Pacheco would not comment specifically on this case, but said — should it be an officerinvolved shooting — that her office would present a completed investigation to a grand jury, which would determine whether the shooting was justified. She said instances in which a suspect in a shootout with the police shoots himself is not considered an officerinvolved shooting.
-- Email the reporter at brodgers@abqjournal.com. Call the reporter at 505-992-6275
