EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — An argument between two groups of teenagers escalated to an officer-involved shooting, which killed an 18-year-old earlier this month in Las Cruces, Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story said.
The Las Cruces Police Department held a news conference on Tuesday morning, May 20, regarding the officer-involved shooting that happened earlier this month across from Lynn Middle School.
Story said that at around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 8, two teenagers were walking on a sidewalk north on South Walnut Street near the intersection of Sambrabo Avenue when a white sedan passed them.
Story said there were three males and a female inside the white sedan, adding that they were teenagers as well.
After the white sedan passed the two teenagers, an argument ensued between both groups due to “how they looked at each other,” Story said.
During this argument, both groups brandished a firearm. The two teenagers then continued walking on the sidewalk, and the white sedan drove away, Story said.
As the two teenagers continued walking, they saw the same white sedan waiting at the intersection of Nevada Avenue and Walnut Street.
Two juveniles then exited the white sedan, one of whom has been identified as Josiah Perrault, 18.
Perrault and the other juvenile then began chasing the two teenagers, and Story adds that Perrault was seen holding a black handgun.
Story said one of the teenagers who was being chased also had a firearm.
While the teenagers were being chased, they turned into the parking lot of 925 S. Walnut Street, where a police officer was finishing his graveyard shift.
The teenagers ended up running to the corner of the parking lot while the police officer was sitting in his unit.
Story said Perrault shot one of the teenagers, and the officer intervened by discharging his service weapon.
Perrault was struck by gunfire and died at the scene. The other juvenile who was with Perrault told police that Perrault pointed the handgun at the officer.
Story said that Perrault had a previous record, stating that he was charged with aggravated fleeing and evading an officer last May.
Perrault was also a passenger in a vehicle that fled from the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office last April, and Perrault was also the driver of a vehicle believed to have been used in a drive-by shooting in March, Story said.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional people could be charged in this incident, Story said.
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