Albuquerque officer dies by suicide during standoff with BCSO, authorities say

An Albuquerque officer shot and killed himself during a standoff with deputies early Thursday in Cedar Crest — hours after they responded to a domestic violence call involving the officer’s family, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.

BSCO did not release the name of the officer, but the Journal learned the officer was 48-year-old Dominic Castro. APD did not answer additional questions but said Castro joined the department in July 2023.

On Wednesday, a warrant had been issued for Castro’s arrest on charges of kidnapping, rape, false imprisonment and child abuse, according to online court records. Charging documents in the case have been sealed.

Court records also show that Castro’s wife petitioned for a restraining order against him Wednesday afternoon — hours after calling deputies — alleging he attacked her and threatened to burn the house down and “harm our daughter.” The petition states the behavior had escalated in recent weeks, alleging Castro planted recording devices around the couple’s home.

In the petition, the wife said her husband had “unstable mental health” and used a belt and “leg shackles” during the alleged abuse. To resolve the situation, according to the petition, the wife requested mental health treatment for Castro and couple’s counseling.

Further court records related to Castro were sealed.

BCSO Sheriff John Allen said in a statement, “This was a complex and deeply troubling situation.”

“We are grateful the victims were able to get to safety and that they had the courage to come forward,” he said. “The investigation will continue through the proper independent processes, and we ask the community to keep the victims in mind as they navigate this difficult time.”

The incident began sometime Wednesday morning, BSCO spokesperson Jayme Gonzales said, when Castro’s wife and child showed up at a school in the East Mountains “and reported they had escaped an ongoing domestic violence situation.”

Based on allegations raised by the family, BCSO obtained a warrant for Castro’s arrest and went to his home in the 100 block of Pinon Trail in Cedar Crest.

“Deputies made repeated announcements instructing the suspect to exit the residence peacefully,” Gonzales said.

On Thursday, just after midnight, deputies went into the home and found Castro with an “apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound,” she said.

No deputies fired their weapons, Gonzales said.

“There were multiple little fires (set) throughout the house,” Gonzales said. “It is suspected that he started them himself and he was the only one in the house.”

Gonzales said a dead dog was also found at the home. It is not clear how the dog died or if there were other animals on the property.

Law enforcement, such as a police service aide and a Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue truck, could be seen outside Castro’s home Thursday, along with an Albuquerque Community Safety vehicle. One of the home’s windows had been broken.

APD Chief Harold Medina called the incident tragic and said APD tried to convince Castro to surrender to law enforcement throughout the day.

“We worked with the Albuquerque Community Safety department to provide services and find a place for the family to stay,” Medina said in a statement. “While we do not know the circumstances that led to the officer’s actions, we are using this as an opportunity to remind all officers of the behavioral health services that are available to them.”