Authorities identify man shot by state police in Peñasco

New Mexico State Police have identified the man shot and killed by officers Saturday morning during a domestic-disturbance call in Peñasco.

Nelson F. Rodarte, 39, was in possession of a loaded .30-30 rifle and a loaded revolver when he was fired upon by a state police officer and Taos County Sheriff ’s deputy, according to a state police news release issued Sunday.

In an interview Saturday, state police Chief Pete Kassetas said two deputies from Taos County had been called to a domestic disturbance after an argument at a family gathering Friday night continued into Saturday morning. Deputies entered a mobile home on Santa Barbara Road and saw a man in a bedroom holding a long rifle. Deputies backed off, and Rodarte climbed atop the residence.

Rodarte was intoxicated the night before and began harassing and possibly battered his girlfriend on the property through the night. He later pointed a rifle at her, according to Sunday’s state police news release.

After state police were called and officers set up a perimeter around the home, Rodarte was spotted on the roof with the rifle, lying in the prone position, according to the news release. When he refused to comply with commands to drop his weapon, shots were fired, according to the release.

Kassetas said Saturday that the deputy and officer fired when Rodarte shifted to one knee.

Rodarte, who died at the scene, was holding his rifle in his hands and had the revolver in one of his pockets when he was found, according to the Sunday release.

State police said the names of the two officers will not be released until all interviews are conducted.

A search of online court cases shows Rodarte had several runins with law enforcement officials in both Taos and Clovis over the past few years, most for nonviolent offenses, including driving while intoxicated and speeding. But in April he was charged in Taos Magistrate court with criminal damage to the property of a household member in a case that was still pending at the time of his death.

When he failed to appear at a January hearing on a DWI charge, Taos Magistrate officials issued a bench warrant for his arrest. According to Lt. Elizabeth Armijo of the New Mexico State Police, Rodarte had two other outstanding warrants, one for the criminal damage charge and one for driving with a revoked license.

The case is still under investigation.

A relative of Rodarte’s told The Taos News that he worked as an electrician. Nelson Rodarte’s Facebook page says he was a native of the village of Rodarte, which is southeast of Peñasco, a small mountain town located about 50 miles north of Santa Fe.

Contact Robert Nott at 505-9863021 or rnott@sfnewmexican.com

Nelson Rodarte, who died at the scene, was holding his rifle in his hands and had the revolver in one of his pockets when he was found, according to the release.