Man arrested after allegedly shooting at State Police officer in Farmington

The New Mexico State Police officer pulled over a Chrysler 300 for speeding just outside Farmington on Monday. But before the officer could stop, according to police, the driver stepped out with an AR-style rifle.

Police say it took seconds for the man to fire 50 rounds at the officer, striking his vehicle several times as he turned his SUV around. The officer was not injured, but his vehicle was disabled and the man sped off.

On Tuesday, the suspect, 40-year-old Fernando Silva, was taken into custody.

Silva, of Farmington, is charged with second-degree attempted murder, aggravated assault of a peace officer with a deadly weapon, shooting at or from a motor vehicle and two counts of aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer.

State Police did not identify the officer.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit filed at San Juan County Magistrate Court, the officer identified the suspect from a previous booking photo.

Silva was on the loose for less than a day before being caught in Aztec on Tuesday, according to a San Juan County Sheriff’s Office social media post.

For New Mexico State Police, the incident felt like déjà vu.

“We saw it with officer (Justin) Hare,” State Police Chief Troy Weisler said during a briefing Tuesday, referencing the officer gunned down near Tucumcari in March.

Weisler added, “Both situations were premediated.”

According to the affidavit, at about 7:30 p.m. Monday, Silva was speeding west on Piñon Hills Boulevard near West 30th Street when the officer tried to pull him over. After stopping, the officer pulled up behind Silva when Silva exited, “armed with an AR-15 style rifle with a possible drum magazine or extended magazine.”

Police said Silva shot at the officer and “rapid or automatic gunfire” was heard on the officer’s dash cam as bullets struck the vehicle.

The affidavit states the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office responded after hearing the officer had been shot at. A deputy was able to find Silva; however, Silva fled past “at speeds over 120 mph.”

Police found 50 bullet casings at the scene.

“His actions yesterday show he is a clear and present danger to the public,” Weisler said.

According to the affidavit, the sheriff’s office said the vehicle matched one that was used in a previous situation where Silva refused to leave a home he was being evicted from and, at the time, told authorities something “to the effect of ‘I will ambush police officers that come in.’”

“We want to make sure Silva, like anyone else that would attempt to do such a horrific thing, feels the full wrath of, not only law enforcement, but the justice system,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the Albuquerque Field Office said during the briefing.