NMSP investigates police-involved shooting in Laguna amid growing public safety concerns

LAGUNA, NM – In late July, Laguna police were involved in a shooting. While no one was seriously injured, police arrested 43-year-old Georgia Martinez Rubio for allegedly pointing a firearm at officers, leading to the incident.

On July 30, 2024, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was called in to investigate an officer-involved shooting involving LPD. The incident occurred on NM State Road 6 near mile marker 2, where LPD officers responded to a welfare check of a woman in distress on the side of the road. MM2 is right on the border of Cibola and Valencia counties.

According to NMSP, emergency responders were the first to arrive at the scene in an ambulance and found a woman named Georgia Martinez Rubio, 43, who was visibly distraught, according to police records.

As the ambulance arrived to assist, Rubio allegedly unexpectedly pointed a firearm at the rescue crew, causing them to back away and immediately notify Laguna Police. When police officers arrived, Rubio pointed the gun again, this time in the direction of the officers.

At least one officer fired his weapon, hitting Rubio.

Rubio was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and no officers were injured in the incident. The New Mexico State Police stressed that their role in such cases is solely to establish facts, while the evaluation of the officer's actions rests in the hands of the district attorney.

This shooting joins a long list of incidents that threaten public safety in Cibola County. On August 16, a police-involved shooting involving Cibola County Sheriff's deputies occurred, and on August 12, Gregory Vaughn Santiago was arrested for allegedly assaulting an elderly woman in Grants. These incidents have heightened community fears and prompted local law enforcement agencies, including the Grants Police Department, to increase patrols and urge residents to be vigilant.

While investigations into these incidents continue, the community remains in dire straits. Local authorities are working tirelessly to ensure public safety while the cases are heard in court.