Man dead following standoff with police

Man dead following standoff with police

From the Las Vegas Optic

A man shot and killed himself during a standoff Tuesday at a home just outside Las Vegas city limits, according to New Mexico State Police.

Daniel Esparza, 55, of Las Vegas, died around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday from what police called a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His death followed a standoff with police that began around 11:30 that morning.

An arrest warrant for Esparza was issued Oct. 5 on charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated battery and aggravated assault. The arrest warrant was issued after a woman reported Esparza as an intruder in her home on Oct. 3. The woman told police Esparza entered her home without permission, choked her and threatened her with a kitchen knife, according to an arrest affidavit filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court.

A San Miguel County Sheriff’s deputy went to Esparza’s home on Mullins Drive, just off Seventh Street, around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday to arrest Esparza on the warrant. Esparza struggled with the deputy, according to a press release from State Police, and the deputy fired a Taser at Esparza.

Esparza struck the deputy and grabbed the Taser, according to police. Esparza then barricaded himself inside the house, and more deputies from the San Miguel Sheriff’s Office arrived at the home.

During the standoff, police allege someone fired shots at deputies from the home. A San Miguel County Sheriff’s deputy fired “at least one round from his duty firearm,” according to the press release, but police do not believe Esparza was struck. Following the exchange of gunfire, the New Mexico State Police Tactical Team arrived to assist sheriff’s deputies.

The tactical team and negotiators were in communication with Esparza via a telephone, and negotiators attempted to get Esparza to surrender “peacefully,” according to State Police. Around 2:30 p.m., negotiators lost the phone connection to Esparza and heard “a single gunshot from inside the residence,” according to the press release. Inside the home, police located Esparza dead from what police believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

NMSP said the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is investigating the incident, and said the deputy that fired at the home will not be identified until interviews with the person are completed.