Deputies Involved in Shooting Revealed
Incident Overview
In a recent event, three deputies were identified for their involvement in a shooting that occurred in the International District. The deputies, Joseph Barreto, Jonathan Skroch, and Dillon Szabo, opened fire on a 36-year-old man named Jason Baca. This incident happened during a traffic stop where Baca was found to have an outstanding felony warrant.
Details of the Shooting
The shooting took place on November 12th, and it was part of Operation Triple Beam. This operation is a joint effort between local law enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service.
- Barreto and Szabo were involved in their first shooting incident since joining the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) in 2024.
- Skroch had been involved in a previous shooting in 2021.
The traffic stop began around 4:45 p.m. when deputies pulled over a vehicle for an invalid registration. Upon discovering Baca's warrant, they attempted to arrest him. Baca fled on foot and at some point, he pointed a gun at the deputies. This led to the deputies opening fire, critically injuring Baca.
Charges Against Baca
Baca was federally charged with several crimes, including:
- Felony possession of a firearm
- Assault on a federal officer
- Brandishing a firearm during a crime
If convicted, he faces the possibility of life in prison.
Another Incident Under Operation Triple Beam
Another incident under Operation Triple Beam occurred on December 16th, resulting in the death of Marc Dutch. However, the BCSO has not released the names of the deputies involved in that shooting or provided details about whether Dutch was armed.
BCSO's Response
The BCSO has a practice of hosting briefings after such incidents to identify the personnel involved and release further details. However, due to the nature of these shootings under Operation Triple Beam, no briefings have been planned at this time.
