Cops: Son Killed N.M. Trooper Mother

Dec. 14, 2007 — -- A New Mexico state trooper was found shot to death in the street where her 25-year-old son lives and he has been charged with her murder.

Police in Las Cruces, N.M., responded to a call early Thursday morning and found Susan Kuchma, a five-year veteran of the New Mexico State Police, lying dead in the street near a middle school, according to Kiri Daines, a spokeswoman for the Las Cruces Police Department. She died from a single bullet wound.

Also at the scene were the handgun that police believe was used in the shooting the woman's son, Justin Quintana. They detained Quintana around 2:30 a.m. and later charged him with murder. Quintana lives on the same road where his mother's body was found. Kuchma was off duty at the time she was killed.

Police released few details about what may have motivated the shooting and Daines said the investigation is ongoing. The Associated Press, citing the local police, said that Quintana may have suffered from some type of mental illness.

Kuchma is the wife of Patrick Kuchma, a 17-year veteran of the New Mexico police force, according to Lt. Rick Anglada, a spokesman for the New Mexico State Police. Quintana is Kuchma's son from a previous marriage, he said. Both Kuchmas work in the state police near the New Mexico-Texas line.

Anglada called Kuchma's death unusual and tragic. "We've had officers killed or die as a result of a crash," Anglada said, "but to be killed by a family member, this makes it all the more shocking."

Kuchma was one of 21 female officers on the New Mexico State Police force and she was the first female active state police officer to be killed.

Kuchma's murder prompted New Mexico governor and Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson, who was participating in the final debate before next month's primaries, to release a statement Thursday.

"The brave men and women who serve and protect the citizens of New Mexico put their lives on the line each and every day," Richardson said. "It is a sincere tragedy when one of our officers is killed." Richardson said the state would fly flags at half-staff in the officer's honor at a later date.