Collin Neztsosie

Date:  3/19/2022         Location: Alburqueque, NM  FACTORS (1,2,4,5,10,19)    

Name: Collin Neztsosie                                 

Criminal History/Involved: Yes, Neztsosie had a prior arrest for drinking in public. / Yes, Neztsosie was creating a disturbance.            

Mental Illness: Yes, a witness said Neztsosie, “clearly he wasn’t in his right mind” and in 2015 police responded to a report that he threatened to hurt himself.  Neztsosie also called 911 on himself prior to the shooting, something he had a history of doing and then fighting with responding personnel.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Nothing reported other than his public drinking arrest. / None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/33

Officer(s) involved: Unnamed Albuquerque Police Officers                                                          

What prompted the initial contact with police? At approximately 5 p.m. on March 19, 2022, Albuquerque Police responded to multiple 911 calls of a man with a gun. Upon arriving in the area, the officers encountered that man, Collin Neztsosie.

Actions taken by subject towards police: Neztsosie refused to comply with the officers commands and he acted aggressively toward them.

Reactions by the police: Fearing that Neztsosie was armed as was reported, and about to use that weapon against the officers, at least one of the officers opened fire on him.

Outcome of investigation into the fatal police incident: The incident is still under investigation.

What could the subject have done that day to still be alive today? Neztsosie could still be alive if he: didn’t make believe he had a gun and threaten others with it; complied with the responding officers; not made furtive movements and made the officers fear for their lives

Justified Use of Deadly Force? YES, the officers reasonably feared for their lives when Neztsosie (whom they were led to believe was armed) made furtive movements which looked like he was trying to access a weapon.