Cop's 'Heart Sank' on Realizing Shots Fired at Minivan Full of Kids (NMSP Shooting w/video)

ABC News ^ | January 17, 2014 | RYAN OWENS Ryan Owens More from Ryan » Correspondent via Good Morning America

[CedarDave]

A former New Mexico state police officer who fired shots at a minivan during a chaotic traffic stop last year had no idea the vehicle was full of children and his "heart sank" when he finally realized it, he told ABC News in an exclusive interview.

Elias Montoya, 53, was terminated in December after he fired three shots at the vehicle carrying a mother and her five children ranging in ages from 6 and 16. Montoya fired the shots after a routine traffic stop evolved into an intense encounter that included a high-speed chase.

"My heart sank when they finally stopped and I was at the passenger side at that time seeing them get out at gunpoint again," he said. "I couldn't believe it that there were that many children in there."

[Slings and Arrows]

Cop's 'Heart Sank' on Realizing Shots Fired at Minivan Full of Kids

"My pension! NOOOOOOOO!"

[nvscanman]

The presence or absence of children in the van is irrelevent. He had absolutely no legal right or
cause to draw his weapon let alone fire it. The vehicle
in question was moving AWAY from him and the other officers.
It posed absolutely ZERO threat to him or anyone else at that time therefore he had NO LEGAL BASIS for his use of
deadly force. In order for justice to even REMOTELY be
served this assclown pinned to a badge needs to be arrested
and charged for the numerous crimes he committed...including criminal assault and assault with a deadly weapon.