A bystander video captured the shooting.
Two Santa Fe police officers shot at a shoplifting suspect who charged at them with a large knife earlier this month in the parking lot of a hardware store.
Video and documents obtained by SFR show that, to get a more complete picture of what happened, you have to back up to the Carhartt jacket.
State Police on Tuesday released the names of the officers who fired and provided more information about their investigation into the events that led to the shooting outside the Big R on St. Michael's Drive on June 7. Meanwhile, the Santa Fe Police Department announced this week it had leveled six charges against the wounded man.
Joseph Galassini, 33, was booked into the Santa Fe County jail on June 12, the same day he was released from the hospital. Galassini, whose address is within the Santa Fe city limits, is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon; aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon; battery; assault; and shoplifting.
Police reports from an officer who interviewed witnesses and store security footage after the incident show Galassini was in the store less than five minutes that Sunday night before he emerged wearing the jacket. Two men confronted him in the parking lot, at one point drawing a gun on him and attempting to pull him out of his vehicle. A 911 caller described a fight in progress.
A video captured by a bystander and shared with SFR appears to show a store employee approach Galassini's vehicle and reach inside, then a second man hands him a gun, which he puts into an empty holster on his waist. As the man with the holstered gun walks away, blood is visible on his arm. Galassini then charges toward a police officer who has arrived on scene and drawn his gun.
SFR has requested the Santa Fe Police Department body-worn-camera video of the incident, but the city has not provided those public records.
The weapon Galassini wielded has been described in various ways. A few days after the incident, Mayor Alan Webber called it "a knife," then State Police referred to it as "a machete." A city news release issued Monday used "a large bladed weapon."
The two officers, Brandon Deets and Cesar Ornelas, are on administrative leave, in accordance with department policy.
Santa Fe Police Chief Andrew Padilla said in a written statement, "incidents like these are traumatic for everyone involved and I hope that all of the victims, our officers and Mr. Galassini are able to heal both physically and emotionally. We look forward to the completion of the New Mexico State Police report and their findings. At the completion of the District Attorney's Office review and determination, we will initiate our internal affairs investigation."
While the process for the district attorney results in a letter of findings that is made public, the city has a policy of not releasing information about internal affairs investigations.
The State Police report indicates the officers gave Galassini numerous verbal commands to drop the knife and shot the man when he was within "striking distance" of an officer.
"Galassini ignored the officer's commands and moved aggressively towards Officer Deets, while holding the knife and yelling at him," it reads. "As Officer Deets moved backwards away from Galassini for his safety, he tripped over a raised curb at which point Officer Ornelas yelled at Galassini to gain his attention…[Galassini] raised his knife towards Officer Ornelas while he continued to yell…Officer Deets and Officer Ornelas fired their department issued handguns at least once towards [Galassini], striking him."
Galassini wounded two store employees with the knife during the altercation, though city reports don't name them.
The same week that city police shot Galassini, county sheriff's deputies shot and wounded a man near Pojoaque on June 9. State Police are also investigating that shooting. On Tuesday, state officials also named the officers who fired in that incident.
Adolfo Chavez, 43, of Santa Fe, remains hospitalized after the shooting. He is charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer after deputies say "closed the distance" between them armed with knives. Deputies had entered a residence where he was hiding in a bathroom.
Lt. Michael Delgado, who has been employed with the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office for 16 years, is on administrative leave in that case after he fired twice at Chavez.
Leah Cantor contributed reporting.
