Written by Officer Dusty Francisco 06/30/2021
This update identifies the suspect and officer involved and provides additional details that led up to the shooting.
Santa Fe, NM – On June 23, 2021, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was contacted to investigate a police shooting involving the Santa Fe Police Department (SFPD).
Investigators learned that on June 23, 2021, at approximately 10:07 a.m., SFPD responded to a fight and shooting incident at De Vargas Park (302 West De Vargas Street) in Santa Fe, NM. SFPD officers searched the area and located a male suspect, later identified as Francisco Javier Lino-Gutierrez (29) of Lamy, NM, who was armed with a handgun. As SFPD Sergeant Bradley Lopez responded to the fight and shooting incident, he overhead the call of a foot pursuit on his police radio by another SFPD officer on De Vargas Street. When Sergeant Lopez arrived on scene, he observed a SFPD officer pursuing Lino-Gutierrez on foot who was armed with a handgun. The foot pursuit continued down Old Santa Fe Trail and Alameda Street. During the foot pursuit Lino-Gutierrez waived the handgun and pointed it towards the officers while running north on Old Santa Fe Trail and towards a crowded tourist area. Lino-Gutierrez stopped and turned towards the SFPD officers, who gave him numerous verbal commands, which he ignored. Lino-Gutierrez pointed the handgun towards the SFPD officers. At that point, Sergeant Lopez discharged his department issued firearm towards Lino-Gutierrez at least once, striking him.
EMS personnel were called to the scene, but Lino-Gutierrez succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.
Sergeant Bradley Lopez has been employed with the Santa Fe Police Department for approximately 7 ½ years. No officer or bystanders were injured in the incident. For information regarding the initial call and the administrative actions on the officers, please contact SFPD. Upon completion of the State Police investigation this case will be forwarded to the appropriate district attorney’s office for review.