Albuquerque Police Department Summary Re: Officer Shooting Jerry Baldonado
The Albuquerque Police Department released details of an officer-involved shooting that occurred on July 4, 2025, at a home on Albuquerque’s Southwest Side. An officer shot and critically injured Jerry Baldonado after he pointed what appeared to be a firearm at police.
Officers in the Southwest Area Command were called to a home in the 2100 block of South Branch Dr. S.W. around 12:20 p.m. The caller, later determined to be Baldonado, requested officers to deal with a family dispute.
Baldonado, 21, had difficulty communicating with the 911 call-taker. He said his brother was yelling at him and at one point said his brother had a gun the previous day. He did not answer additional questions.
Officers arrived at the home at 12:35 p.m. As Officer Dominic Sanchez approached the front door and announced twice that he was with the police department, Baldonado abruptly opened the door with his left hand and raised what appeared to be a handgun in his right hand, pointing towards Officer Sanchez.
Officer Sanchez stepped back and took cover behind a stucco pillar and yelled several times for Baldonado to put the gun down. Baldonado pointed the apparent handgun at Officer Sanchez as he ducked on either side of the pillar and drew his own handgun. Baldonado switched his gun to his left hand, and extended it out toward Officer Sanchez.
Officer Sanchez told him a final time to put the gun down or he would get shot. As Officer Sanchez moved to the left of the pillar, Baldonado had the gun pointed directly at the officer. Officer Sanchez fired three shots which struck Baldonado, who fell to the ground.