Albuquerque –
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s office held a press conference today to show business surveillance, deputy body worn camera footage, and also deputy vehicle mounted dash camera footage. The Sheriff’s Department also played 911 calls in regards to a crash at Edith and Montano which which ultimately led to the deputy involved incident on 11/26/2021.
The Sheriff’s office said the suspect Elijah Riche was involved in a multi vehicle crash and then drove from the scene. A deputy witnessed Riche fleeing the scene and pursued him. Riche is then seen crashing his vehicle into a nearby business. Riche is seen in nearby business security footage fleeing his vehicle on foot then returning to the vehicle for a back pack. The back pack contained weapons. Riche open carried an AR-15 weapon as he fled the deputy.
A second deputy came to the scene and drove down to pursue Riche. Dash camera video shows Riche turning around and running back toward the second crash. The deputy can be heard giving commands for him to drop the weapon. Riche says “no”, and then raises the weapon. Deputy Ronald Perez, a 10 year BCSO deputy, fires one shot and strikes Riche. Suspect Elijah Riche
Perez and other deputies move in on Riche to preform lifesaving tactics and he is taken to a local hospital where he died. Riche had a sealed juvenile criminal record and no major criminal charges as an adult.
Perez and other deputies move in on Riche and he is taken to a local hospital where he died. Riche had a sealed juvenile criminal record and no major criminal charges as an adult.
Deputy Ronald Perez
