SANTA FE, N.M. — A police-involved shooting in Santa Fe on Sunday led to the arrest of a reckless driver and the cancellation of the Defile de la Gente parade, according to authorities.
Santa Fe police reported the incident happened around 10:30 a.m. near the downtown Santa Fe Plaza, just hours before the popular parade was scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
The suspect's name and age had not been released as of Sunday.
“We had an individual who recklessly crashed into a vehicle, engaged in a confrontation with police and led to a police pursuit,” Santa Fe Mayor Alan Weber said. He told the Santa Fe New Mexican“Police fired shots. He was arrested and is in custody. Unfortunately, he has ruined the day for everyone else.”
New Mexico State Police said in a statement that both the Santa Fe Police Department and the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office were involved in the shooting.
State police said the troopers escaped injury, but the suspect was wounded.
Dan Shipp told The Associated Press he was a half block away from the square when he saw a white pickup truck make several sharp turns before crashing through the barricade.
Shipp said he then heard “six or seven gunshots” but wasn't sure whether the shots were fired by police or the suspects.
Shipp said hundreds of people gathered in the square and set up tents along the parade route selling trinkets, mats and other items.
“Everything is closed now,” he said, adding that all other events scheduled at the square have also been canceled.
The purpose of the parade is to “provide fun, relaxation and cultural enjoyment for Santa Fe residents and visitors,” according to the event's website, which also calls the parade the Santa Fe Fiesta Historical/Hysterical Parade.
