Gunman dies in Roswell police shootout

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE/KBIM) - A hail of bullets flew in a Roswell residential area late Wednesday morning killing a man engaged in a gunbattle with police officers.

One neighbor said there were so many gunshots she lost count after about a dozen.

The two Roswell Police Department officers involved are now on standard administrative leave.

The officers reported seeing a man later identified as Rudy Lucero walking in the 600 block of East Tilden Street around 11 a.m.

The officers tried to make contact with Lucero, 26, who they said then pulled out a handgun.  In the exchange of gunfire Lucero was struck at least once and then taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police said Lucero did have a warrant out for his arrest but declined to provide details. They also don't know if that's why he ran when he saw the two officers.

So far investigators are not saying if Lucero or the officers fired the first shot.

A large group of friends, family and neighbors congregated near the police perimeter which brought extra officers to the scene.

A joint task force made up of members from the New Mexico State Police, Chaves County Sheriff's Department and RPD are investigating the shooting.

This isn't the first time Lucero was involved with in a shooting with Roswell police officers. In 1998 he faced several charges including kidnapping and aggravated assault on a peace officer for that incident.

This is the first officer-involved shooting in Roswell in about three years, according to RPD Officer Travis Holley.