Police release details in SWAT shooting that left officer injured, suspect dead
By: We are now seeing firsthand what led to an officer getting shot during a July SWAT situation in the Northeast Heights.
APD officers were trying to arrest 20-year-old Emmanuel Galaviz Campos in connection to a homicide investigation. Police surrounded the apartment.
Two other adults came out but told officers there was a 2-year-old still inside with Campos, and that’s when officers decided they had to get inside as soon as possible.
“There was a child inside this home and that was their biggest concern was the safety of the child, and that is why they decided to make the decisions to enter the home,” said APD Chief Harold Medina.
Officers decided to enter the apartment through a bedroom window, they used a tool to open the closet door from around the corner. But what they didn’t know was Campos was hiding in there, and as officer John Holler was crawling in, Campos fired multiple shots, striking Holler in the arm.
Then, both APD and New Mexico State Police shot back, killing Campos.
“When you see what actually occurred, you see how close this officer was to possibly be more seriously injured and possibly killed,” said Medina.
Through the body camera footage, people can see Campos pointing a gun at officers inside the bedroom.
Based on the casing found, investigators say police fired 15 shots into the apartment. Luckily, the child inside was not hurt.