Elderly Man With Active Warrant Exchange Gunfire With State Police Officer
Officer-Involved Shooting in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico – May 6, 2025
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico — On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at approximately 12:09 p.m., a New Mexico State Police officer conducted a routine traffic stop on a white GMC pickup truck in the area near Truth or Consequences. The driver of the vehicle was later identified as 75-year-old Dennis Jones, a resident of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The traffic stop was initiated after the officer conducted a license plate check, which revealed that Jones had an active arrest warrant out of the state of Arizona. The warrant was related to a probation violation stemming from a sexual assault charge. Based on this information, the officer approached the vehicle with heightened caution and proceeded with the standard traffic stop protocol.
During the stop, the officer requested that Jones step out of the vehicle. At that moment, Jones produced a handgun and pointed it directly at the officer. Perceiving an imminent and lethal threat, the officer immediately drew his department-issued sidearm and fired multiple rounds at Jones. Despite being fired upon, Jones remained inside the vehicle, did not surrender, and instead fled the scene in his pickup truck.
A vehicle pursuit ensued, with Jones heading northbound on New Mexico Highway 181, just outside the Truth or Consequences area. The officer pursued the vehicle, maintaining visual contact while coordinating with dispatch and other law enforcement units.
The pursuit came to a halt on High Winds Road, where Jones’s vehicle was found stopped in the middle of the roadway. The officer approached the vehicle with caution and began issuing loud, clear verbal commands instructing Jones to surrender.
In response, Jones once again escalated the situation by opening fire on the officer from within his vehicle. The officer took cover and responded by deploying his duty-issued rifle, returning fire in order to stop the threat. A brief but intense exchange of gunfire occurred at the scene.
Following the exchange, backup units arrived and officers cautiously approached the vehicle. Upon reaching it, they discovered that Dennis Jones was unresponsive in the driver’s seat. Medical personnel from the Office of the Medical Investigator arrived on the scene and subsequently pronounced Jones deceased.
The involved officer was not injured during the incident. He followed department protocols in responding to the lethal threat posed by the suspect and immediately called for assistance following the exchange of gunfire.
This event is being actively investigated by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau, in accordance with standard procedures for any officer-involved shooting. Investigators will examine body-worn camera footage, forensic evidence, and witness statements to determine the full sequence of events and whether all actions were within department policy and legal justification.
The firearm used by Dennis Jones was recovered at the scene and has been submitted for analysis. Authorities have also confirmed the validity of the outstanding warrant from Arizona, which was related to serious felony-level offenses.
The identity of the involved officer has not yet been released, and per departmental policy, the officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The New Mexico State Police remain committed to full transparency and public accountability. Updates will be released as more information becomes available.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who has additional information is encouraged to contact the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau.