Carlos Andres López

Las Cruces Sun-News

LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State University released video Friday from a body camera worn by the campus police officer who fired two shots at a gun-wielding student Monday night.

The video shows the student, identified as 28-year-old Karsten Cuthair, making verbal threats to open gunfire on the third floor of a campus apartment complex before he is shot by NMSU police officer Jarrod Colliver.

Shortly after 11:30 p.m. Monday, Colliver and another NMSU police officer were dispatched to the Chamisa II Village Apartments to the report of a man with a gun in the H Building.

In the video, Cuthair repeatedly yells “stay in your room” as the officer approaches the third floor. Later, Cuthair can be heard saying, “If you want to catch a bullet, step out.”

As Colliver rounds a corner, Cuthair appears seated on the ground, pointing a gun down the hallway. Colliver then commands Cuthair to drop the weapon. About two seconds later, as Cuthair pivots with the gun in hand, Colliver fires two shots, striking Cuthair once in the thigh.

Colliver backs away, indicates that shots were fired, and then approaches Cuthair as he again orders him to drop the gun. “I did, I did,” Cuthair says while yelling.

The video then shows Cuthair laying supine on the floor, arms above his head, the gun on the opposite side of the hallway.

“Did I hit you?” Colliver asks Cuthair after retrieving the gun.

Cuthair doesn’t directly respond, but later he obeys Colliver’s commands to turn over and put his arms behind his back. At which point, he is handcuffed.

Colliver again asks Cuthair if he was struck by a bullet. “Yes, sir,” he replies, indicating he was shot in his left thigh.

“What are you doing, man?” Colliver asks.

Less than two minutes after the shooting, Colliver tells another officer, “He pointed it at me,” referring to the gun.

Cuthair appears to be in pain as he struggles to turn on his side when ordered by the officers.

About six minutes after the shooting, two men who were fishing at Alumni Pond arrive on the scene to render aid. Shortly thereafter, NMSU firefighters and the paramedics arrive on the scene.

Cuthair was transported to University Medical Center in El Paso, where he was listed in stable condition on Monday. He has been released from the hospital.

Following the shooting — the first by an NMSU police officer — Colliver was placed on administrative leave for three days. An NMSU spokeswoman said Friday that Colliver is back on duty, but he is not scheduled to work until next week.

Colliver has been with the NMSU police department for two years. He was recently pictured in the Sun-News helping build homes for Habitat for Humanity.

NMSU police Chief Stephen Lopez did not immediately return requests for comment on Friday. But during a news conference Monday, Lopez said, “I am very pleased that despite being confronted with an armed threat, the officer maintained his composure, communicated effectively with the second officer and dispatch, and quickly secured the suspect and requested emergency medical treatment.”

Cuthair is back in New Mexico after having been released from the hospital, and has been arrested on a warrant charging him with:

Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer with a Deadly Weapon (3rd degree felony)

Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (4th degree felony)

Unlawful Carrying of a Deadly Weapon on University Premises (petty misdemeanor)

Negligent Use of a Firearm (petty misdemeanor)

He is in the process of being booked under a $150,000 cash only bond at the Doña Ana Detention Center.

Carlos Andres López can be reached 575-541-5453, carlopez@lcsun-news.com or @carlopez_los on Twitter.