Officer killed man in 'fight for life'

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An Albuquerque police officer was in a life-or-death situation before shooting a violent suspect who tried to smash his way into the officer's patrol car Tuesday night, according to a city official.

Albuquerque Public Safety Director Darren White also identified the man shot to death by the officer as Enrique Carrasco, a city employee with a history of assaulting police officers, White said.

White made his comments during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

Carrasco, 38, was reported to be armed with a knife when he smashed through a window of the squad car and attempted to open the door. APD Officer Josh Brown, a three-year veteran of the department, then shot Carrasco who died at the scene on Montgomery Boulevard NE in front of Del Norte High School.

Carrasco was employed by the city Department of Senior Affairs as a maintenance worker at the Palo Duro complex.

A friend told KRQE News 13 that Carrasco was a loving person and the father of eight children.

According to police Carrasco had gotten into an argument with his fiancée at the Ross department store near Montgomery and San Mateo shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday. He then went outside and used a knife to slash the tires of the woman's vehicle while the couple's 7-year-old child was inside.

Carrasco then walked east on Montgomery as police responded to calls about the disturbance at the Ross store.

He then is reported to have run at Brown's squad car first jumping on the hood and then smashing out the driver's side window with his knife. He then managed to get halfway through the window while trying to open the door from the inside when Brown shot him.

Other officers arriving on the scene reported they found Carrasco dead and slumped over Brown with the knife pressed against the officer's leg. Brown was not injured.

Police said Carrasco had a lengthy criminal record that included battery on a police officer.