Special Prosecutor Clears Deputy In Peralta Officer Involved Shooting

A special prosecutor has recommended that no criminal charges be filed against a Valencia County Sheriff’s Office deputy in the officer involved shooting that resulted in the death of Peralta resident Michael Gabaldon in September 2024. The decision, delivered in a Nov. 11 letter to New Mexico State Police, names Deputy Lucas Chavez and advises state authorities not to pursue criminal prosecution.

The shooting followed an extended period of disturbance in the neighborhood surrounding the Gabaldon home. Neighbors repeatedly called police about a nearby resident, identified as Thomas Rodriguez, who was reported to be firing a gun and acting erratically. Deputies had responded to the Gabaldons' residence multiple times before the confrontation that culminated in the officer involved shooting.

Local officials have said the special prosecutor examined the circumstances leading up to the incident and the actions of responding deputies. The Nov. 11 letter is the latest development in a case that has remained sensitive for families and neighbors directly affected by the events of last year. For residents of Peralta and wider Valencia County the decision ends the immediate prospect of criminal charges under state law, while leaving other avenues of review possible.

Community reaction has been mixed, reflecting longstanding concerns about neighborhood safety and the role of law enforcement in crisis situations. Some neighbors had long warned of dangerous behavior around the Gabaldon residence and felt that repeated calls for assistance did not prevent escalation. Others view the prosecutor’s recommendation as a legal closure of the criminal aspect of the case.

The recommendation by the special prosecutor does not bar administrative reviews within the Sheriff’s Office nor does it prevent civil litigation from moving forward. For local authorities and residents the ruling underscores the need to evaluate response protocols for repeated reports of dangerous behavior, and it reinforces questions about how to better prevent violent confrontations. As the community absorbs the decision, county leaders will face pressure to balance accountability with the legal findings laid out in the Nov. 11 letter.