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Dominic Cruz De La O, Officer Killing, Alamogordo NM, 2023
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A 27-year-old Alamogordo man is facing federal charges for possessing the modified shotgun authorities say was used to execute Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson during a July 15, 2023 traffic stop. Dominic Cruz De La O made his initial appearance in federal court this week, and remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for February 22nd.
The criminal complaint details a drastically altered 12-gauge shotgun. The weapon’s barrel measured just 16 inches, with an overall length of 25.5 inches. Crucially, the original stock had been ripped off and replaced with a pistol grip – modifications that put it squarely outside legal boundaries. Investigators allege De La O used this weapon to fatally shoot Officer Ferguson, ending a routine traffic stop with brutal violence.
Federal investigators quickly zeroed in on a possible supplier. Jonah Apodaca, 32, of Alamogordo, appeared in federal court February 12th, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The ATF alleges Apodaca provided the illegally modified shotgun to De La O. Apodaca will remain jailed while awaiting trial, a date for which has not yet been set.
Beyond the federal charges, De La O is also facing a litany of state-level crimes related to Officer Ferguson’s death. These include first-degree murder, aggravated fleeing, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence. The weight of these charges, coupled with the federal allegations, paints a grim picture for the defendant.
If convicted on the federal weapons charge, De La O faces up to 10 years behind bars. Apodaca, if found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, could receive a 15-year sentence. Both men are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This case underscores the deadly consequences of illegally modified firearms and their proliferation on the streets.
The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division, with significant assistance from the Alamogordo Police Department, New Mexico State Police, and the Otero County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Ry Ellison are prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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