Father's Day shooter sentenced to 24 years

A man was sentenced for his part in a shooting and high speed car chase on Father's Day in 2017 which ended in a SWAT stand-off at McGinn's PistachioLand in Alamogordo.

Kaleb Scroggins, 23, was found guilty by an Otero County jury on eight criminal charges following a five-day trial which ended in May and was sentenced this week to serve 24 years in prison.

On the morning of June 18, 2017, officers responded to a call about a shooting victim at a mobile home park in Alamogordo, according to Otero County Magistrate Court records.

Court documents state the victim told police Scroggins had accused him of stealing a firearm and the two men got into an argument.

Scroggins shot the man three times and fled the scene.

Alamogordo Police began searching for Scroggins and learned he might be in the La Luz area.

Officers approached Scroggins in unmarked vehicles and when they attempted to stop him, he refused and led officers on a high speed chase.

The pursuit ended when Scroggins crashed with another vehicle on Highway 54/70, causing the other driver's vehicle to flip over, trapping them for 20 minutes.

According to court documents, Scroggins exited his crashed vehicle and exchanged gunfire with police officers.

A total of 18 employees and visitors at the nearby McGinn's PistachioLand were inside and several witnessed the crash and shoot-out. The store manager locked the front door and led customers to a refrigerated room to hide, court documents state.

Scroggins broke the glass window to get inside and barricaded himself within the store.

According to a press release from Twelfth Judicial District Attorney John Sugg's office, Scroggins came outside of the store briefly to yell at officers, “I will fucking kill you,” while attempting to fire his handgun without success, as the firearm was loaded with an incorrect caliber of ammunition. 

According to the release, Scroggins later made several 911 calls saying he was a murder suspect or that he had a hostage.

Scroggins caused over $14,000 worth of damage to the inside of the store and after four hours of negotiations, surrendered to police.

This case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Scot Key and was investigated by the Alamogordo Police Department, Otero County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State Police. Hon. Judge James Waylon Counts presided over the sentencing.

Cristina Carreon can be reached at ccarreon@alamogordonews.com, 575-437-7120 or on Twitter @Cris_carreon90.

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