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Deputy Sheriff Emilio Candelaria | Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, New Mexico
Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, New Mexico

Deputy Sheriff

Emilio Candelaria

Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, New Mexico

End of Watch: Wednesday, January 29, 1930

Biographical Info

Age: 32
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 29, 1930
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 50 years

Deputy Candelaria was shot and killed when he accompanied three other deputies, and three federal probation agents as they attempted to serve a warrant near Sedillo.

Deputy Candelaria and the three other deputies hid outside the home of the suspect while the probation agents entered. As the agents read the warrant to the suspect, the brother of the suspect and his friend encountered the deputies outside. One of the suspects shot Deputy Candelaria with a shotgun as he attempted to move from his position.

The agents inside the house, thinking they were surrounded, fled from the house. One of the agents went back into town to call for back-up. When back-up arrived, the officers surrounded the house and forced all the suspects to surrender.

Deputy Candelaria died of his wounds as he was being transported to the hospital.

A total of nine suspects were arrested and charged in relation to Deputy Candelaria's murder. Two, ages 23 and 48, were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 to 50 years.

Deputy Candelaria, an Army veteran who served during WWI, was survived by his wife and son.