Police have arrested the two suspects accused of shooting at an officer during a traffic stop along U.S. Highway 285 near Fort Sumner. The arrest came several days after the suspects had been on the run.
Authorities identified the suspects as Jovan Martinez and Makaela Johnson. The police placed the two into custody in the Fort Sumner area with the help of NMSP Tactical Teams and local law enforcement agencies.
Martinez and Johnson were accused of shooting at an NMSP sergeant during a traffic stop on Monday, February 23. The officer was unharmed. After the incident, the pair had been on the run for several days. Their cellphone data, however, led the police to their location.
New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said the routine traffic stop has “quickly escalated into a violent encounter.” The armed male passenger exited the vehicle during the stop and fired at one of the officers. After the incident, the pair fled by carjacking a couple at gunpoint.
Weisler thanked “all law enforcement partners who assisted in bringing this dangerous situation to a safe resolution.” He also cited “the community for their support, cooperation, and patience over the past several days.”
Before their arrest, police had launched a manhunt for the pair. The initial investigation identified the woman as Makaela Johnson. But the man, Johnson’s companion, was identified only a day after the incident. He was identified based on photos from the encounter.