State authorities are now investigating the City of Andrew’s first officer-involved shooting in nearly three decades.
Andrews Police Chief Bud Jones has been with the department for 29 years and he says in those years there hasn’t been an officer-involved shooting.
“Not here. First time I’ve seen one in a long time,” Andrews resident Bobby Alaniz said.
“I’ve been here all my life, the first shooting I’ve seen here in Andrews,” Alaniz said.
Bobby Alaniz grew up in the small community. It’s a town he says minds its own business.
“It’s a quiet town and it’s peaceful, nobody bothers nobody here,” said Alaniz.
Until late Saturday night, when the sound of sirens took over the area of Northeast 1st Street.
“I saw about three sheriff’s and a policeman over there, about five,” Alaniz said.
After hearing a few loud bangs just feet from his front porch.
“All I heard was four shots, I heard the four shots when we came out the door. My wife and my grandson was sitting on the couch and they thought it was firecrackers, until they finally looked out the door and saw the policemen,” said Alaniz.
Andrews Police say it began as an aggravated robbery and kidnapping, but turned into an officer-involved shooting. The first one in almost 30 years, according to Police Chief Bud Jones.
Surprising news for town local Gustavo Vega.
It’s a nice place, I run around it all the time, I run around everywhere and it’s calm, it’s nice, nice people everything,” Andrews resident Gustavo Vega said.
That night police told me officers approached a vehicle. The driver then hit the gas and charged one of the cops, who fired several rounds, striking a suspect in the vehicle. Vega says it’s a scary scene, but this rare shooting doesn’t worry him.
“This is a sweet town, it’s a nice town and I like being here, I like living here,” Vega said.
Alaniz and his grandkids are here to stay as well, but they’re making sure to stay alert in Andrews.
(Information from YourBasin.com)
