Officer shot in the face with sawed-off shotgun during foot chase in Alamogordo

An officer was critically injured by a shotgun blast and the alleged shooter took another officer’s bullet to the leg during a foot chase early Saturday morning in Alamogordo.

Officer Ray Wilson, a New Mexico State Police spokesman, said the officer was airlifted to a trauma center and is in “stable but critical condition.”

He said the suspect, 26-year-old Dominic De La O, was treated at a hospital and booked into the Otero County Detention Center on charges including attempted murder and aggravated battery on a police officer with a deadly weapon.

It was the second police shooting involving De La O in months.

In late January, De La O was shot twice in the back by Alamogordo police when he pulled a handgun during a scuffle with officers, according to court records. De La O was facing one felony drug charge and several misdemeanors in that case and was awaiting trial.

Court records show a warrant was issued for De La O’s arrest on Wednesday after he violated his conditions of pretrial release by being at a party where a shooting occurred.

Wilson, the State Police spokesman, said around 2:30 a.m. Saturday an Alamogordo police officer tried to pull over De La O for driving with no headlights or taillights. He said De La O drove off and crashed into a light pole near First and Delaware.

Wilson said De La O ran from the crash and officers gave chase.

He said during the chase De La O pulled out a “concealed sawed-off shotgun” and shot at the officers, striking one in the face. Wilson said another officer shot at De La O, hitting him in the leg.

He said De La O continued to run and was detained after a physical fight with officers at a home in the 100 block of Delaware.

“New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews,” Wilson said. “Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the district attorney for their review and consideration.”