Albuquerque Officer Peter Romero shot Robert Garcia, 64, during a traffic stop on Nov. 15 after Garcia ignored nine warnings to drop the pistol he was carrying. A note found in his pocket said 'Thank you officer.'
By Philip Caulfield / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Updated: Thursday, January 16, 2014, 1:28 PM
KOAT
In a video shot by an Albuquerque cop's lapel camera, Robert Garcia can
be seen approaching the officer with a gun after a traffic stop on Nov.
15.
Video has
emerged showing the moment a New Mexico police officer opened fire on
an armed suspected child molester who authorities said was looking to
commit "suicide by cop."
In the video, officer Peter Romero repeatedly shouts, "Put the gun down!" at Robert Garcia, 64, whom he'd pulled over in northeast Albuquerque on the morning of Nov. 15.
Garcia ignored the officer's commands and approached Romero clutching a small black pistol, video shot from the officer’s lapel camera showed.
Romero gave one final warning — "Put the freaking gun down!" — before opening fire, hitting Garcia once in the stomach.
Moments later, more cops arrived and Garcia was taken to a local hospital.
His gun turned out to be a pellet gun.
The encounter was released by Albuquerque police on Wednesday and broadcast on local KOAT-TV.
The release of the video came on the same day prosecutors in Idaho released a similar tape showing a cop fatally shooting a man who ignored repeated warnings to drop two knives.
Authorities in northwest Idaho said the suspect in that case intended to commit suicide by cop.
In the Albuquerque case, police said a note reading "Thank you officer" was found in Garcia's back pocket.
While in the hospital, Garcia admitted he wanted to die by provoking an officer to shoot him. The note was meant for the officer he thought would kill him, police said.
At the time, Garcia was under investigation by state police for allegedly molesting a 6-year-old in Taos County, KOAT-TV reported.
RELATED: MAN SURVIVES FAILED 'SUICIDE BY COP' ATTEMPT
His family said he'd been acting suicidal.
Garcia survived the shooting and was set to be arraigned Friday on charges of aggravated assault on a peace officer.
In a news conference after the incident, Albuquerque police chief Allen Banks said Romero did the right thing.
Also on Wednesday, footage was released showing police officer Spencer Mortensen, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, shooting Eric B. Johnston during a tense confrontation on August 25.
Johnston, 38, had fled into a female friend's home after a car accident, and the woman told Mortensen she feared he would cut himself, video broadcast on local KREM2 news showed.
After ignoring several orders to come out of the kitchen, Johnston appeared holding two knives and approached Mortensen, the cop’s lapel video showed.
In the video, officer Peter Romero repeatedly shouts, "Put the gun down!" at Robert Garcia, 64, whom he'd pulled over in northeast Albuquerque on the morning of Nov. 15.
Garcia ignored the officer's commands and approached Romero clutching a small black pistol, video shot from the officer’s lapel camera showed.
Romero gave one final warning — "Put the freaking gun down!" — before opening fire, hitting Garcia once in the stomach.
Moments later, more cops arrived and Garcia was taken to a local hospital.
KOAT
Officer Peter Romero shot Garcia, 64, once in the stomach after he ignored nine warnings to drop the weapon. Police say Garcia, who was under investigation for allegedly molesting a 6-year-old, was looking to commit 'suicide by cop.'
The encounter was released by Albuquerque police on Wednesday and broadcast on local KOAT-TV.
The release of the video came on the same day prosecutors in Idaho released a similar tape showing a cop fatally shooting a man who ignored repeated warnings to drop two knives.
KOAT
Authorities say this note found in Garcia’s pocket was meant for the officer who killed him.
While in the hospital, Garcia admitted he wanted to die by provoking an officer to shoot him. The note was meant for the officer he thought would kill him, police said.
At the time, Garcia was under investigation by state police for allegedly molesting a 6-year-old in Taos County, KOAT-TV reported.
RELATED: MAN SURVIVES FAILED 'SUICIDE BY COP' ATTEMPT
His family said he'd been acting suicidal.
Albuquerque Police Department
Garcia survived the shooting and is expected to be charged with assault on a police officer Friday.
In a news conference after the incident, Albuquerque police chief Allen Banks said Romero did the right thing.
Also on Wednesday, footage was released showing police officer Spencer Mortensen, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, shooting Eric B. Johnston during a tense confrontation on August 25.
Johnston, 38, had fled into a female friend's home after a car accident, and the woman told Mortensen she feared he would cut himself, video broadcast on local KREM2 news showed.
After ignoring several orders to come out of the kitchen, Johnston appeared holding two knives and approached Mortensen, the cop’s lapel video showed.
Coeur d’Alene Police Officer Spencer Mortensen shot Eric B. Johnston in an apartment in northwest Idaho in August after Johnston refused to drop two knives he was holding.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/video-police-officers-opens-fire-madman-commit-suicide-article-1.1581541#ixzz2qcKB63Pc
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