FORT MORGAN, Colo. – A man suspected in a double homicide in Albuquerque, N.M. was shot by deputies in northern Colorado late Thursday morning more than 500 miles away from the original crime scene.
Morgan County law enforcement agencies were told at 8 a.m. Thursday that the man was believed to be in the area after fleeing New Mexico, according to a news release from the Fort Morgan Police Department.
The suspect was reportedly suicidal and armed and dangerous, and was driving a vehicle stolen out of New Mexico, police said.
They discovered the stolen vehicle at the Walmart on Barlow Road in Fort Morgan. As the man left the store and tried to get back into the vehicle, he was confronted by deputies from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, according to the police department.
“The suspect made a threatening gesture and was shot by the deputies,” Fort Morgan Chief of Public Safety Paul Schultz said.
The suspect was airlifted to Loveland Medical Center and was in critical condition as of the last update, according to Schultz.
An Albuquerque Police Department spokesperson said a man suspected in a 3:30 a.m. double homicide had been involved in an officer-involved shooting in Fort Morgan.
Later Thursday, Fort Morgan Police Sgt. Kevin Campbell identified the suspect who was shot by deputies as 31-year-old Dustin Brian Montano, of Sterling Colo. He was still in critical condition as of 3:40 p.m., according to hospital staff.
Campbell and Albuquerque police also confirmed that Montano is the suspect in the early-morning homicide in Albuquerque.
Campbell also said that Morgan County Sheriff Jim Crone and Undersheriff Dave Martin were the deputies involved in the shooting.
Schultz said no deputies or officers were injured in the incident. The shooting will be investigated by the Morgan County Major Crimes Task Force, which is made up of officers from across the county.