Sheriff's Office investigating officer-involved shooting in Tortugas

The Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office is investigating an officer involved shooting that happened the evening of Feb. 17 in the Tortugas area. 

Just before 6 p.m., Doña Ana Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to a structure fire at the 600 block of Watson Lane. Upon arrival, firefighters were informed of a possible occupant inside the residency.

Crews conducted a primary search inside the home and did not locate anyone in the main area of the home. After the fire was extinguished, firefighters were advised that the individual may be inside the garage. 

When crews attempted to access the garage, they encountered resistance from a person inside and turned the scene over to the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office. 

Deputies searched the structure and located an armed adult male inside the garage area. The individual was in a secured area and refused to exit, per deputies’ orders. During the confrontation, shots were fired. No deputies were injured. 

The Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office hosted a news conference on Feb. 19 to provide updated information. During the conference, Sheriff Kim Stewart outlined the events leading up to the incident.  

Just before 8 p.m., Doña Ana Fire Rescue, the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office and the Mesilla Marshalls Office were dispatched to a structure fire at a single-family residence on the 600 block of Watson Lane. The residence had multiple points of entry and access. 

Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, which was later determined to have been started in multiple locations of the property, according to the sheriff. Crews encountered an adult male, later identified as Dylan Leonard, inside the residence. Leonard was asked to leave the property due to the active fire, but he refused. 

Firefighters notified deputies, who then attempted to communicate with Leonard through the door and requested that he exit the structure; however, he continued to refuse despite the ongoing fire response. 

Due to the dangerous conditions, deputies took action to remove Leonard from the home. At approximately 8:34 p.m., Leonard emerged suddenly from one of the access points holding a knife and advancing toward a deputy. Shots were fired by a DASO deputy and a Mesilla marshal's unit on scene. 

Deputies worked to render medical aid to Leonard, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. One deputy sustained a minor injury during the incident and was treated and released from a local hospital. 

In accordance with protocol, the Officer-Involved Shooting Task Force was activated immediately. The deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure following an officer-involved shooting. 

This incident is being investigation by the Officer-Involved Shooting Task Force, which includes investigators from the Las Cruces Police Department, Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police and New Mexico State University Police. Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be turned over to the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office for review.