An incident that occurred around 10:30 pm, on Wednesday, February 23 left one suspect dead, another, a female, on the run and a Hobbs Police Department (HPD) officer in the hospital.
The confrontation evolved when a HPD officer tried to speak to two people seated inside a black Dodge dually pickup. The truck was parked alongside the road in the 1900 block of North Turner Street, a main thoroughfare in Hobbs.
“Bodycam footage from the officer’s bodycam revealed that the officer was talking to the driver and the suspect and asked him [the driver] to step out of the vehicle at which time he [the driver] fled on foot …,” states HPD Interim Chief August Fons during a press conference held on Thursday afternoon, February 24. The situation then escalated and a shootout evolved.
“A male subject fled the area on foot, and multiple gunshots were fired,” states a press release issued by the HPD about the incident. “The officer involved sustained a gunshot wound….” He was taken to Hobbs Covenant Hospital.
During the incident the male suspect, now identified as Daniel Ramirez, also, “sustained gunshot wounds”, states the press release. “Officers on scene began rendering aid to the suspect, and Hobbs EMS [Emergency Medical Services] responded to the scene. The male suspect was transported to Covenant Hospital and later succumbed to his injuries.”
The other suspect, 26-year-old Janessa Perez of Hobbs, was detained at the scene of the incident by a different officer and placed in handcuffs. The press release goes on to say that while officers were aiding Ramirez after he had been shot, “…Perez was able to access a police unit [vehicle] and flee the area. Perez crashed a short time later then fled on foot.”
Perez has not been found since fleeing the scene.
During Thursday’s press conference Interim Chief Fons asked citizens to refrain from approaching Perez and to contact law enforcement should she be seen or if they are aware of her whereabouts.
During the press conference Interim Chief Fons declined to release the name of the officer who was shot during the incident. However, Fons confirmed that the officer is in “good, stable condition” and is “recovering with his family”. The extent of the officer’s injuries was not discussed.
Both Ramirez and Perez have extensive criminal histories according to Acting/Interim Chief Fons. Even so, he noted that HPD understands that loss of life is always tragic to the family of the victim.
Interim Chief Fons, additionally, expressed pride in the work HPD officers carry out. “I see acts of courage, empathy, compassion, teamwork and leadership every single day that I work here. These officers quite literally put their lives on the line each and every day….” Fons, also, thanked the Lea County Sheriff’s Department, the Hobbs Fire Department, EMS, and the personnel, medical staff and doctors at Covenant Hospital for their assistance.
Interim Chief Fons informed the public that he had received a call from staff at Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office checking on the injured officer and offering whatever assistance they can provide.
HPD, in accord with policy, has turned the ongoing investigation over to the New Mexico State Police (NMSP). The public is asked to contact the NMSP at 505-629-7104 with any and all information it might have regarding the incident. Updates about the case will be provided to the public by the NMSP.
