A Roswell man will serve a decade in federal prison after he shot at police during a foot chase in May 2025.
Daniel Garcia, 39, of Roswell, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison for a charge of illegally possessing a firearm during the shootout with police, which led to the chase near downtown Roswell, according to a Sept. 30 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.
Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, read the release. After he completes his 121-month sentence, Garcia will be on supervised release for three years.
Police shot and wounded Garcia on May 16, 2025, after he opened fire on them following a brief foot pursuit, according to the news release. Garcia was later treated at a local hospital. No officers were injured.
The encounter between police and Garcia began that day when two Roswell police detectives saw Garcia standing in the middle of the street near the intersection of Summit Street and South Washington Avenue.
The detectives stopped their vehicle, activated their emergency lights, identified themselves as police officers and tried to speak with Garcia, but he fled on foot while holding a satchel, according to the news release.
One detective chased Garcia on foot while the other stayed with the vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.
The pursuit continued onto West Mathews Street, where one of the detectives ”heard a gunshot and observed a muzzle flash coming from Garcia’s location,” according to the news release. A detective returned fire, hitting Garcia. A handgun was recovered near him.
When later questioned by police, Garcia admitted to having the gun but said it accidentally discharged into the ground while he ran, the release read.
Garcia also said he ran because he did not know they were police, read the release. He said they were not wearing uniforms, and he did not see their emergency lights.
Police later determined that Garcia had a prior felony conviction for trafficking methamphetamine, which prohibits him from possessing a firearm, according to the criminal complaint.
In addition to the felony charge for which Garcia was sentenced, he initially faced state charges of aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon; receipt, transportation or possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon; resisting, evading or obstructing an officer; and crossing outside a crosswalk, according to court documents.
Garcia pleaded not guilty to the state charges, which were dismissed without prejudice, meaning they can be refiled at a later date.
