Man shot, killed by New Mexico officer was Durham homicide suspect

The shooting occurred earlier this month near Prewitt, N.M., during a struggle after the officer was dispatched to check on the welfare of a man seen slumped over the steering wheel of a brown BMW, the agency said in a statement.

When contacted by the officer, Oliver Ashley Toledo Saldivar, 26, got out of the car. Police said the officer asked Saldivar to stand beside the police car while he collected information. Saldivar reached for a"black object" concealed in his jacket pocket, police said. The officer stepped away and drew his weapon, but Saldivar charged at and tackled the officer, who then shot Saldivar, the statement said.

Police said the suspect continued to fight the officer even after being shot and tried to grab the officer's gun.

Saldivar bit the back of the officer’s arm and was able to retrieve a gun from his own jacket. The officer was able to wrestle the gun away and throw it to the side.

A passing semi-truck driver saw the fight and stopped to help the officer subdue Saldivar.

According to state police, "The Good Samaritan trucker observed the suspect's gun on the ground, threw it out of his reach, and helped the officer take him into custody."

Once Saldivar was in custody, the officer called for an ambulance. Medical aid was rendered to Saldivar, but he died at the scene.

Police wrote in a Facebook post that the police officer suffered bite injuries to the back of his left arm. He was placed on standard administrative leave per policy.

When the incident occurred, the officer wasn't aware that Saldivar was a suspect in an April 12 homicide in Durham, the statement said. Police said Saldivar was a possible suspect in the homicide of Karla Yadira Jaramillo Noyola on West Carver Street near North Duke Street.