Chase driver killed by officer named

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - New Mexico State police have identified the officer and man killed in the officer-involved shooting Wednesday afternoon.

On Wednesday police say  Gary Atencio, 46 , of Albuquerque led Albuquerque and state officers on a high-speed chase on Interstate 40 west of Albuquerque.

That chase followed reports of shots fired at about 1 p.m. in northwest Albuquerque.

The incident began with Atencio and his estranged wife having lunch with Atencio trying to reconcile their marriage, according to the Albuquerque Police Department.

She refused and on the way back from that lunch the discussion apparently got heated.

Albuquerque police says Atencio's wife jumped from Atencio's yellow Mustang near the intersection of Golf Course Road and Ellison Road and got into a silver Acura driven by a friend who happened to be in the area. Investigators say Atencio blocked that car, got out and shot at his wife multiple times without hitting anyone.

Witnesses say Atencio then went up to the car, dragged his wife out of the car, stood over her and shot at her again. Once again he missed.

Police say Atencio got in his car and took off after he was confronted by security guards from nearby Lovelace Westside Hospital.

A witness tried to follow Atencio but stopped pursuing him once Atencio started shooting at him, too.

Albuquerque officers then chased Atencio's car through Albuquerque's West Side until he hopped on westbound I-40 at Unser Boulevard. Police say Atencio drove at speeds upwards of 130 mph while trying to elude officers.

State Police picked up the chase near mile marker 122 on Laguna Pueblo.

Atencio crashed his car near mile marker 108 on the pueblo after trying to pass two semi trucks that were attempting to block him. Investigators say Atencio then took off on foot with his handgun, running north across a set of railroad tracks towards a house.

State Police say APD Tactical Officer Russell Carter, a 15-year veteran, shot and killed Atencio. 

Police still haven't disclosed how many times or where Atencio was shot or if he brandished his weapon at officers. State officers are handling the investigation into the shooting.

APD Chief Ray Schultz said Carter has been involved in previous deadly shootings.

Atencio has a history of domestic violence dating to at least 2010 when APD was called to his northwest Albuquerque home.  According to the criminal complaint, Atencio's son told police there was a history of domestic violence between his parents but that nobody had called the cops before.

The complaint says that when officers arrived, Atencio brandished a sharpened letter opener and resisted arrest. According to the complaint, Atencio later told officers he wished he had rushed them with the weapon so that officers would have shot and killed him.

Neighbors told KRQE News 13 Atencio had been under a lot of stress in his life recently including the death of his father and breakup of his marriage. A family member says Atencio was a military veteran.

Wednesday's incident began less than three miles away from where he and his wife had lived.