In the early morning hours of October 6, 2002, the life of 31-year-old Damacio S. Montano, a White / Caucasian male, was tragically cut short in Los Lunas, New Mexico. An off-duty Valencia County Sheriff's Deputy, Damacio was at a restaurant with his brother, Eric Montaño, who was a New Mexico State Police officer, when a fight broke out between two women. The two brothers, both dedicated law enforcement officers even when not in uniform, stepped in to assist the bouncers in breaking up the altercation.
As they were escorting the women out of the establishment, located at the intersection of Valencia Road and Route 47, a vehicle pulled up. A man exited the car and, without warning, opened fire with a handgun. Damacio Montano was struck multiple times and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. His brother, Eric, was also wounded in the hip but survived the attack. The violent encounter that began as a simple bar fight had escalated into a homicide.
The investigation into the shooting led to the identification of three suspects. Nestor Chavez, Michael Armendariz, and Sandra Baray were all charged in connection with the incident. Ultimately, the man identified as the shooter was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of Damacio Montano and attempted murder for the wounding of his brother. On August 11, 2003, a jury found the individual guilty, and he was subsequently sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 13 years.
