2 Arrested, 1 Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting

Monday, August 28, 2017 at 5:00 PM

William Wilson, 26, accused of shooting at officers during a traffic stop. Fatally shot by return fire. (Photo courtesy: NM State Police)

The officer detained Wilson in handcuffs at the front of his body. Moments later, Wilson shot the State Police officer in the upper left chest area of his body. Both the State Police officer and deputy returned fire, striking Wilson numerous times. Wilson sustained fatal gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. A .357 magnum revolver was later recovered in Wilson's possession.

From NM State Police:

Farmington, NM - On August 27, 2017 around 9:30 a.m., a deputy with the San Juan County Sheriff's Department was on patrol and observed a vehicle which was suspected to be involved in a recent string of burglaries in San Juan County. The deputy initiated a traffic stop, and the vehicle, a white 1994 Ford pickup, stopped in the parking lot of the Citizens Bank in Farmington (4220 Hudson Street).

After the stop, the deputy made contact with the driver, Terry Joplin (42), and detained him for further questioning. There were two other passengers who remained inside the vehicle. During this time, a New Mexico State Police officer arrived on scene to assist the deputy.

The State Police officer contacted the passengers, later identified as Kaytlynn Arnold (21) and William Wilson (26). After speaking briefly to the passengers in the vehicle, the officer asked Wilson to exit the vehicle to speak to him further.

The round which struck the State Police officer lodged inside the officer's badge and did not penetrate his Kevlar vest. The officer was transported to a nearby hospital and was later released in stable condition.

William Wilson had an extensive criminal history in New Mexico and Texas. He was released from prison in May 2017 to the custody of the San Juan County Jail due to a pending court case. On August 2, 2017, Wilson was released from the San Juan County Jail with a GPS monitoring device. His criminal history includes charges out of Texas and New Mexico for crimes of Battery upon a Peace Officer; Arson; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon; Aggravated Burglary; Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Prisoner; Assault; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon; and numerous probation violations.

Kaytlynn Arnold was arrested by the San Juan County Sheriff's Department on an outstanding warrant for Contempt of Court. Terry Joplin arrested by the San Juan County Sheriff's Department on two outstanding warrants for Failure to Appear and Failure to Pay Fines.

The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is investigating the police-involved shooting. This investigation is ongoing and more details will be released when they are available. The names of the officer and deputy will be released after all interviews are completed. Upon completion of this investigation, the case will be forwarded to an assigned district attorney's office for review.

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