Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office names deputies who shot man in International District

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office has named the three deputies who shot and injured a man in the International District in early November.

"This release is being made as part of the Sheriff’s Office’s commitment to transparency as related reports are being made public," said Jayme Gonzales, spokesperson for BCSO, said in a Friday news release.

Deputy Joseph Barreto, Jonathan Skroch, and Dillon Szabo shot at 36-year-old Jason Baca after he pointed a gun at them. It was the first deputy shooting for Barreto and Szabo, both of whom joined BCSO in 2024, Gonzales said. The shooting was the second for Skroch. 

"Deputies Jonathan Skroch and Dillon Szabo were federally deputized U.S. Marshals Service Task Force Officers operating as part of Operation Triple Beam," Gonzales said.

In 2021, Skroch shot and killed 41-year-old Ezekiel Meza as deputies chased him through the backyard of a South Valley home. 

Triple Beam

The Nov. 12 shooting — which left Baca critically injured — was the first during Operation Triple Beam. On Dec. 16, deputies working the operation fatally shot Marc Dutch, 42. 

BCSO has not released the names of the deputies who fired their weapons in that incident, said if Dutch was armed at the time or what led deputies to open fire. 

It has become custom for BCSO and the Albuquerque Police Department to host a briefing after a police or deputy shooting to identify the personnel involved and release further details. 

However, Gonzales said that because both shootings were under Operation Triple Beam, no briefings have been planned at this time. 

The first shooting started as a traffic stop.

Deputies pulled over a vehicle around 4:45 p.m. for an invalid registration and learned that Baca, who was in the passenger seat, had an outstanding felony warrant.

Deputies attempted to arrest Baca when he fled on foot. At some point, Baca pointed a gun that he had concealed in his waistband. Deputies Barreto, Skroch and Szabo opened fire, critically injuring him. 

Baca was federally charged with felony possession of a firearm, assault on a federal officer and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, the U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico said on Monday. 

He faces life in prison if convicted of the current charges.