Ralph Chavez was killed by Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico, United States, May 22, 2014.
“According to police, Chavez was having a fight with his girlfriend when a man came up to intervene. Chavez slashed him in the neck with the six-inch box cutter with a hooked blade, critically injuring him.” On the scene crisis intervention was used to try to calm the situation. Audio from a video filmed at the scene allows for listeners to hear Chavez screaming out “Shoot me! Shoot me!” Officers fired at least six shots Chavez advanced towards them with a box cutter knife. Friends described Chavez as a good guy who was dealing with alcohol and mental illness.
There has been no lapel camera footage released but audio from the incident has surfaced. Chavez had a lengthy crime history and was just released from Metropolitan Detention Center the Wednesday before the shooting.