The Albuquerque Police Department released more details Friday on an officer-involved shooting in July that left a man dead.
According to the release, Wendel Tagle, 43, was engaged in a verbal argument with his wife inside of their apartment during the morning hours of July 21 before the fight escalated and Tagle “grabbed and strangled” his wife in their living room of the Cora Vista Apartments on 10600 Cibola Loop NW.
Tagle’s wife was shot in the leg as she tried to free herself, and Tagle’s firearm discharged.
After being shot, Tagle’s wife ran down a flight of stairs as Tagle followed her. She later told detectives she thought Wendel was going to kill her. She was able to seek a safe place to hide from Tagle until police officers arrived.
During this incident, Tagle pointed his firearm at several individuals in the apartment complex, including an APD sergeant as he arrived at the scene.
Officer Robert Sanchez arrived on the scene and took cover as he ordered Tagle to drop his firearm.
Sanchez said Tagle brought the firearm down and gained a “sight picture” of Sanchez. Sanchez discharged his firearm, striking Tagle at least four times in the upper torso area.
Tagle died at the scene.
Sanchez has been with APD since 2015 and was also involved in a shooting in 2018.
APD will continue to investigate and analyze this incident.
