Hatchita, NM – A carjacking in southern New Mexico turned into a two-hour highway pursuit Sunday morning before state police arrested a 75-year-old armed suspect.
According to New Mexico State Police (NMSP), officers in Deming were dispatched to Hatchita on September 8, 2025, at approximately 9:08 a.m. after reports of an armed carjacking. Authorities said the suspect, identified as David Shoemaker, allegedly forced a victim from their Volvo at knifepoint using a large machete. The victim was not injured.
Officers quickly spotted the stolen vehicle heading east on Highway 9, where the driver refused to stop, sparking a pursuit. With assistance from U.S. Border Patrol and Customs, police deployed spike strips that damaged the vehicle, but it continued fleeing.
According to NMSP, officers eventually executed a Pursuit Intervention Technique (P.I.T.) maneuver, forcing the car to stop. They reported that Shoemaker was armed with both a machete and dagger when the standoff began. Negotiators attempted to persuade him to surrender, and when that failed, the NMSP Tactical Team intervened and took Shoemaker into custody without further incident.
Shoemaker was booked into the Luna County Detention Center. He faces charges including aggravated fleeing of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon, reckless driving, resisting and obstructing an officer, and concealing identity.
The case remains under investigation by New Mexico State Police.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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