Incident
Patrolman Ronald Shores was struck and killed by a fleeing vehicle while manning a roadblock on State Road 3. Deputies from the Taos County Sheriff's Department were pursuing a stolen car and requested assistance from the Questa Police Department. Patrolman Shores had positioned his car across both lanes of a two-lane bridge. The suspect's vehicle struck the patrol car and then struck Patrolman Shores, killing him. The 20-year-old man, a diagnosed schizophrenic, fled on foot but was apprehended a short time later. He was sent to a state mental hospital to determine his sanity. On February 22, 1979, he was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 5 years probation. Conditions of his probation were that he be transferred to a Pennsylvania mental hospital so he could be near his mother. He was to remain in the hospital until medical professionals said he could leave. Patrolman Shores, a U.S.
Survivors
Navy veteran who served as a crewman on the USS Denebola AF56, had been with the agency for four months and was survived by his wife, son, and father.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-2A4F5576- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Shores served with the Questa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Questa community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Ronald Edwin Shores served in the Other (1969â1973) before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman Ronald Edwin Shores is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NM, 123 of 193 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.7% of this state's fallen. That is 9.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ronald Edwin Shores's cause is highlighted.
How Ronald Edwin Shores Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of manslaughter
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ronald Edwin Shores is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ronald Edwin Shores was killed by automobile.