Santa Fe, N.M., deputy Tai Chan shot and killed 29-year-old sheriff’s deputy Jeremy Martin at a hotel following a drunken argument.

New Mexico Deputy Kills Colleague

On Tuesday, Las Cruces Police Department released a detailed statement on the shooting death of a Santa Fe County sheriff's deputy caused by another one of the department's deputies.

"A Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputy is dead and another in custody following an early-morning shooting at Hotel Encanto in Las Cruces," read the department's statement, posted to Facebook. "One of the deputies, a 27-year-old man, is being interviewed by Las Cruces Police detectives. Charges are pending. Jeremy Martin, 29, was pronounced dead at MountainView Regional Medical Center."

On Monday, the two deputies had been tasked with transporting a prisoner to an Arizona detention facility. They rented a room at the Hotel Encanto on their trip back and headed to a local bar, where they both had a few drinks and subsequently got into an argument.

"At around midnight, or shortly thereafter, the two returned to Hotel Encanto and to their 7th Floor room," according to the Las Cruces PD. "The argument between the two quickly escalated and the 27-year-old deputy is believed to have fired several rounds from a semi-automatic weapon at Martin. Evidence indicates that the 27-year-old fired several rounds as Martin attempted to flee the 7th Floor and enter an elevator."

The Las Cruces Police responded to calls about the shooting and found Martin critically injured with gunshot wounds to his back and arms, but still alive. He was taken to Mountain View Regional Medical Center, where he died despite efforts to save him. Meanwhile, Chan was discovered in a stairwell of the hotel and taken into custody.

Chan has been charged with an open count of murder and is being held without bail.