SUSPECT HAD CRIMINAL RECORD
Sheriff says man was in gang; convictions were for nonviolent felonies
Sheriff says man fatally shot by deputies was gang member.
A man who died after a deputy-involved shooting in the South Valley early Tuesday had a lengthy criminal history and had recently been released from prison, according to Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales.
Court records show Miguel Gonzales, 28, who also goes by Miguel Gonzalez, had run-ins with the law dating back to 2008. The sheriff also claimed he was a self-professed gang member.
Family members painted a different picture of Miguel Gonzales, saying he was a caring father who was killed behind the house where his three sons and ex-wife were sleeping.
Deputies patrolling the South Valley early Tuesday saw a group of cars at a carwash near Coors and Old Coors SW around 1:30 a.m. They found one of the vehicles, a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo, had a stolen license plate, Sheriff Gonzales told a Wednesday morning news conference.
The driver sped away, and when deputies caught up to the car, the suspect, later identified as Miguel Gonzales, ran from the car. Deputies chased him and that’s when, Sheriff Gonzales said, “several shots were fired.”
Two deputies are on paid administrative leave, but the sheriff wouldn’t say whether both deputies shot at the suspect.
It’s also unclear whether the suspect fired at deputies. A gun was found at the scene, the sheriff said.
“At this time, we don’t have
the details of the number of shots or who fired those shots,” Sheriff Gonzales said.
He said items found in the Monte Carlo led deputies to believe other crimes were committed with the car, but authorities wouldn’t say what those items were or what crimes they think may have been committed.
Court records show that Miguel Gonzales has never been convicted of a violent crime, but he has been convicted of numerous felony property crimes.
In 2012, he pleaded no contest to a felony charge of fleeing a law enforcement officer. In 2013, he pleaded no contest to multiple felony counts of burglary, and in 2014, he pleaded no contest to felony possession of drugs.