FARMINGTON, NM – Elias Buck, 24, of Aztec, New Mexico, is headed to federal prison for a decade after being sentenced to the statutory maximum of 10 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charge stems directly from the January 7, 2022, shooting of a Farmington Police Officer. Buck, already a fugitive after escaping from a jail in Durango, Colorado, just a week prior, opened fire on the officer at point-blank range, leaving the lawman wounded and with limited arm function.
The incident unfolded after officers responded to a call about a possible drunk driver in a black Cadillac. A pursuit ensued, ending in the Carl’s Junior parking lot, where Buck and an accomplice fled on foot. A third officer, responding to the scene, spotted Buck – recognizable despite a poorly-executed disguise involving a wig – in a nearby dirt lot. As the officer approached, Buck allegedly pulled a pistol, aimed it at the officer’s face, and fired. The bullet struck the officer’s arm, and a second shot impacted his elbow before Buck continued firing as he fled the scene.
The officer, though wounded, managed to return to duty, but continues to struggle with full range of motion in his arm. Buck himself remained on the run for nearly two weeks before being apprehended on January 14, 2022, in Phoenix, Arizona, thanks to the sharp eyes of a convenience store security guard. The entire ordeal sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Farmington and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Department.
During sentencing proceedings before United States District Court Judge Kea W. Riggs, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe delivered a powerful statement. Hebbe emphasized the significant and lasting impact of the shooting, noting that it was the first time in over 30 years a Farmington officer had been shot in the line of duty. He described the event as “shocking” for the entire agency, many of whom had never experienced an officer-involved shooting.
Hebbe directly addressed Judge Riggs, imploring her to send a clear message: “assaults on our criminal justice system, assaults on our police officers is absolutely not tolerable.” He argued that no amount of criticism or changing societal climate could excuse such a violent act. Judge Riggs heeded the call, handing down the maximum 10-year sentence to Buck, stating he had no right to alter another person’s life.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Phoenix Field Division, and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. The sentencing of Elias Buck serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement and the consequences of violent crime, especially for those already attempting to evade justice. Buck pleaded guilty on December 8, 2022, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
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