Derick Martin Garcia Pacheco, Assault on a Federal Officer, New Mexico 2020

Assault with a Deadly Weapon in New Mexico: A shocking incident of violence against law enforcement has come to light in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Derick Martin Garcia Pacheco, 33, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty to one count of assault on a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon and inflicting bodily injury and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition in federal court on May 10. He will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, on December 11, 2020, FBI agents were executing a search warrant at Garcia’s residence when they knocked on the door and announced themselves as federal officers. Garcia, however, responded by arming himself with a .357 revolver and firing through the door, striking one of the agents.

The agent was seriously injured, requiring surgery and hospitalization. Other officers secured the scene and the FBI Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit responded to assist in executing the warrant, and Garcia was subsequently detained.

In his plea, Garcia acknowledged that he knew at the time of the incident that as a previously convicted felon he cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

Garcia faces up to 20 years in prison for the assault charge and up to 10 years in prison for possessing firearms and ammunition. The FBI investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Holland S. Kastrin and Sarah J. Mease are prosecuting the case.

Garcia’s actions on December 11, 2020, raise serious concerns about the safety of law enforcement officers and the need for stricter gun control laws in New Mexico.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting the authority of law enforcement and the consequences of violent acts against them.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a city that has struggled with high crime rates, and incidents like this one only exacerbate the problem.

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