ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A heartbreaking event has unfolded as a police officer from northwestern New Mexico has passed away after suffering critical injuries in a shooting incident during a traffic stop. On Sunday, several law enforcement agencies came together to escort the body of Bloomfield Police Officer Timothy Ontiveros from an Albuquerque hospital. He had undergone numerous surgeries in recent days, and his remains are now being transferred to the state medical investigator’s office. A final procession back to his city will occur on Tuesday.
This tragic incident began on Memorial Day when Ontiveros stopped a man for a traffic violation. The driver refused to comply with the officer’s request to roll down his window or provide his identification. After failed negotiation attempts, the authorities decided to arrest the man, breaking a car window to do so. It was then that the driver opened fire, fatally wounding Ontiveros and narrowly missing a second officer present at the scene. That officer was able to return fire and neutralized the armed assailant. Reports indicate that the shooter had a criminal history, including arrests for assault, trespassing, resisting an officer, and threatening hospital staff.
Officer Ontiveros, only 33, was not new to service. Before joining the Bloomfield police force in December, he had been employed at the Farmington Police Department and served as a volunteer firefighter in the nearby community of Aztec. To support his family financially during this difficult time, a GoFundMe page has been initiated in his honor.
Reflecting on the contributions and character of Officer Ontiveros, Bloomfield Police Chief Phillip Francisco commemorated him with high regard. He described Ontiveros as a figure of kindness, professionalism, and a fervent dedication to community safety, despite his short tenure with the department. Chief Francisco also called upon the community to support the police force through what he described as an immense loss.
The state’s leader, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, also expressed her condolences, emphasizing the perils that law enforcement officials confront daily. In a statement released Sunday, she lamented the passing of this courageous officer, recognizing it as a profound reminder of the inherent dangers faced by those sworn to protect and serve.