Early Thursday morning, two 911 calls were made from a home, and from the neighbors of that home, in Roswell, NM. A 34 year old man was threatening his girlfriend and her two children. When police arrived at the scene, the man charged at the woman and the children with a knife. Police tried tazing him, but that did not stop him, so they had to use lethal force. Police are not saying how many shots were fired at the suspect, or where he was hit.

The next morning, investigators for the Roswell, N.M. Police Department worked with the Chaves County Sherriff’s Department and the State Police to document the scene of the shooting. What was unique about this investigation is that a FARO 3D scanner was used.

The scanner was purchased by the department only a month ago, for an estimated $86,000. The data which it can collect, however, is invaluable to prosecuters in court

“The information is tremendous when it comes to court. They will be able to show the jury: this is what we have, this is where it happened. It gives them a totally different perspective. It puts them inside the scene,” said Roswell Public Information Liasion, Sabrina Morales.

Investigators have been using the scanner to scan both inside the home and outside, around the crime scene, and expect to continue to use the scanner in future crimes in the area.

The identity and the condition of the man who was shot, has not been released by authorities. The two officers were given paid leave as the investigation continues, which occurs in all cases like this.

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