ALBUQUERQUE, NM — During a domestic violence call in southeast Albuquerque last month, police shot and killed one suspect — and one officer wounded another.

Investigators said a suspect came at officers Jeff Schwarzel, Reanna Torres and Vanessa Zuniga with a gun when they responded to the call in mid-October. The officers opened fire and killed 41-year-old Matthew Sanchez.

Officer Schwarzel was also shot. Investigators said the bullet likely came from Torres’ gun.

As is standard protocol in “officer-involved shootings” like these, a multi-agency task force has launched an investigation, and prosecutors will review their findings.

KOB 4 put Dr. Ron Martinelli to look at the body camera footage in this case. Martinelli is a retired police detective and current forensic investigator who consults on cases nationwide.

Martinelli said there are a few areas of concern.

“Based on what I see, I see problems, problems with both the officer who shot and the officer who was shot,” he said.

Martinelli reviewed some of the body camera footage of Torres and Zuniga. He said he saw a problem when Schwarzel stepped forward.

“They have to yell at the officer who’s stepping into the line of fire, ‘Hey, you’re in the line of fire,'” Martinelli said.

Martinelli said adrenaline can take over in high-stress situations like these and Torres may have had tunnel vision.

“That’s how officers are shot, so the officer moving forward was a clear mistake. They have to kind of stay in line with each other,” Martinelli said.

Martinelli said another problem is that Schwarzel moved toward the threat. He also said the light from the guns created a silhouette around Schwarzel, making him harder to see.

“The other problem you have here, for the three officers, is that you have neither cover nor concealment. Remember, concealment is something that can hide you, but it won’t stop a bullet. Cover is something that can hide you, but also stop a bullet. These officers had none of that at their disposal,” Martinelli said.

Martinelli added that for most officers in these situations, training never fully begins because they never get enough. If they don’t have to use those skills, they lose their skills.

“That’s the one where officers have the most trouble, one way or another. It’s something I don’t do very often, and when I do, there’s an enormous amount of risk associated with it. In this case, it’s kind of a life or death thing,” Martinelli said.

Police said Schwarzel will recover from his injury. As of last week, the three officers who responded have not yet returned to work.

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