New Mexico Police Sergeant Stabbed While Subduing Suspect Outside Retail Store
What to Know
- Gallup Police Sgt. Graham was stabbed while attempting to detain Fernando Trujillo at a local sporting goods store.
- Trujillo was found with a pocket knife and charged with aggravated battery and assault with a deadly weapon.
- A female victim was struck in the face and injured while fleeing from the suspect prior to the stabbing.
GALLUP, New Mexico -- Gallup Police Department officers responded to a reported stabbing at approximately 6:39 p.m. Jan. 16 at 710 U.S. Highway 491, the location of a Big 5 Sporting Goods store.
Responding officers located Sgt. Matthew Graham, who had reported over the radio that he had been stabbed, according to a news release.
Graham was found actively subduing a male suspect, later identified as 40-year-old Fernando Trujillo of Gallup, New Mexico. Officers observed blood on the ground and recovered a gold-colored, flip-style pocket knife with an approximately four-inch blade near the suspect.
Graham was treated at the scene and transported to a hospital for further medical evaluation. Police said he has since been released and is recovering.
During the investigation, detectives identified a second victim. A female victim reported that an individual matching Trujillo’s description attempted to grab her near Speedway Heritage prior to the stabbing. She told investigators she escaped after being struck in the face with a right hook while the suspect was holding the knife. The victim sustained injuries to her right eye and forehead, according to police.
Trujillo was arrested and charged with aggravated battery upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Detectives processed the scene and continue follow-up on the case.