In the late hours of a Wednesday evening in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a chain of events began that would end in the death of 32-year-old Nathan Roybal. On June 23, 2021, a Santa Fe County deputy identified a truck that had been reported stolen earlier in the day. Behind the wheel was Nathan Roybal, and when deputies activated their lights, a slow-speed pursuit commenced through the city streets.
The chase was erratic, with Roybal swerving and at times, driving the truck in reverse for
minutes on end, navigating past deputies and a roundabout. Eventually, the truck came to a stop near the intersection of Siler and Rufina Court. What happened next escalated the situation dramatically. According to law enforcement, Roybal emerged from the truck's window and pointed a gun at the deputies. In response, deputies opened fire.
After the initial volley of shots, Roybal made a run for it, but he was struck by the gunfire and collapsed in the street. Officers approached and secured the scene, confirming that no one else was in the vehicle. Nathan Roybal was pronounced dead at the scene. An obituary for his twin brother, Jason Roybal, who passed away on the same day, caused some initial confusion. The incident was investigated as a deputy-involved shooting, with no other suspects sought in connection to Nathan Roybal's death. It was later reported that Roybal had a history of criminal charges, including burglary, car theft, and aggravated assault.
