VALENCIA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – One man is dead, and another behind bars, after a dispute between neighbors turned into a deadly police shooting over the weekend. As the investigation continues, neighbors are shocked over which man deputies shot. “He was awesome. You talk to everybody here, I mean him, his wife, son never caused a […]
VALENCIA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – One man is dead, and another behind bars, after a dispute between neighbors turned into a deadly police shooting over the weekend. As the investigation continues, neighbors are shocked over which man deputies shot.
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“He was awesome. You talk to everybody here, I mean him, his wife, son never caused a problem,” said a neighbor who wanted to stay anonymous. She was sharing more about her neighbor, 51-year-old Michael Gabaldon, the man who was shot and killed by Valencia County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Sunday.
The neighborhood east of Los Lunas is full of disbelief after the shooting. They said Gabaldon was a good man. According to neighbors, it all started with another man who lives on their street, Thomas Rodriguez, who they said has been a problem before. “He causes scenes every six months, shoots his gun out, shoots at the neighbor’s houses,” said the neighbor.”
Neighbors said they’ve called police other times on Rodriguez. Then, around 3 on Sunday afternoon, Valencia County deputies responded to reports of Rodriguez outside his home shooting a rifle into the air.
The sheriff’s office said deputies tried to talk to Rodriguez but he refused to come out of his home. Instead, they spoke to his mother who agreed to file an Extreme Risk Firearms Protection Order petition to have her son’s guns seized.
Deputies left to get that court order, but around 8 p.m. they were called back for a dispute between Rodriguez and his neighbor, Michael Gabaldon, who told deputies Rodriguez tried to run him over.
Rodriguez again refused to leave his home and deputies left. Soon after, the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office said they were back a 3rd time for reports Rodriguez and Gabaldon were exchanging gunfire.
According to New Mexico State Police, the deputies saw one person firing a weapon in the direction of a home. That’s when one deputy opened fire striking Gabaldon who died from his wounds. Neighbors are left wondering how it ended like this.
“He didn’t deserve it, his family didn’t deserve it.”
Court records show Rodriguez has a criminal history. He was arrested last year for shooting at a neighbor’s house but that case was dismissed. After a SWAT standoff on Monday, police arrested him at his home.
The Valencia County Sheriff’s Office said the deputy who opened fire has been placed on standard administrative leave. They said they are waiting to release more information until state police complete their investigation and they hope to release more details by late next week.
Valencia County Sheriff Denise Vigil sent KRQE this statement:
Any loss of life in our community is a tragedy. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the deceased. I want my community to know that the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office is fully cooperating with the State Police agents to ensure a proper and thorough investigation is conducted. I do not want to impede their ability to find the facts and answers of what happened late Sunday night, 9/29/2024. I am confident that the investigation will shed light on the circumstances of what happened that led to this unfortunate situation. I am also committed to transparency with our public. Once NMSP agents have completed their interviews with our personnel, the Sheriff’s Office can provide reports and body camera footage to the public.