Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Manuel Quintana was shot and killed by the brother of a juvenile he had arrested for disorderly conduct at a dance hall in El Rito.
The 14-year-old had created a disturbance with a slingshot, after he got mad because a girl refused to dance with him. The boy's 19-year-old brother approached Deputy Quintana and shot him the face, killing him. As a local constable chased the killer he turned and fired at him twice. The constable caught him and took him into custody. An examination of the pistol showed it had been shot three times but the trigger was pulled five times. The last two bullets, meant for the constable, were defective.
The juvenile was convicted of a weapons charge and sent to the state reform school. The older brother pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 90 to 99 years in prison.
Deputy Quintana was survived by his wife and chidren.
Survivors
Deputy Quintana was survived by his wife and chidren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-313BD78D- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Quintana served with the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Espanola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Quintana.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Manuel Quintana 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%.
At Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Manuel Quintana's cause is highlighted.
How Manuel Quintana Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 99 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Manuel Quintana is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Manuel Quintana was killed by handgun; revolver.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
