Man shot and killed by Farmington police identified

• Rossi was a suspect in a shooting that resulted in multiple gunshot wounds for the victim, who was in stable condition.
• A Rossi family member told police the suspect and his mother showed up at the family member's Crouch Mesa residence looking for a place to stay.
• A State Police press release said shots were fired by at least one Farmington police officer.

FARMINGTON — Law enforcement officials have identified the man shot and killed by police early Tuesday at a Farmington motel.

Andrew Rossi, 25, was the suspect shot and killed by a SWAT officer for the Farmington Police Department in a room at the Motel 6 after Rossi allegedly charged officers with a knife. Rossi was wanted in connection to a shooting in Colorado.

A New Mexico State Police press release issued late Tuesday stated Rossi was wanted out of Ignacio, Colorado, on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

A search warrant obtained by The Daily Times states Rossi had been a suspect in a shooting that resulted in multiple gunshot wounds for the victim, who was a "stable victim (Monday) in Ignacio Colorado."

Messages left for the Ignacio Police Department were not returned.

The search warrant also details how law enforcement officials located Rossi's vehicle at the motel Monday night.

A deputy for the San Juan County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to a residence on County Road 5580 in Crouch Mesa on reports of a disturbance.

A Rossi family member told the deputy the suspect had shown up at the residence with his mother and was looking for a place to stay.

The family member forced Rossi and his mother to leave the residence. The family member added that Rossi had a handgun on him.

As part of the investigation, the deputy learned Rossi had left the property and was headed toward Farmington in search of a motel.

During a search of Farmington motels, deputies located Rossi's red Cadillac vehicle with a Colorado license plate at the Motel 6 at 1600 Bloomfield Blvd. around 8:45 p.m. Monday.

As the search warrant was being drafted, Rossi's mother exited the motel room and was taken into custody for her safety.

The warrant also stated Rossi had a 2014 conviction and should not be in possession of a firearm.

After the SWAT team for the Farmington police arrived on the scene around 10:58 p.m., officers started calling for Rossi to come out, according to a Farmington Police Department press release.

A hostage negotiator attempted to make contact with Rossi, but contact was never established.

Around 1 a.m., SWAT officers slowly made entry into the motel room and heard movement in the ceiling. As SWAT officers removed ceiling tiles, Rossi fell from the ceiling to the ground. Rossi stood up and charged the officers with a knife, police said.

The State Police press release said shots fired by at least one Farmington police officer struck Rossi.

The name of the SWAT officer or officers who shot the suspect was not released. The number of shots fired by the officer or officers was not released.

His gunshot wounds were fatal, as Rossi died after being transported to the San Juan Regional Medical Center.

The case remains under investigation.

Tuesday's shooting was the second fatal officer-involved shooting involving an officer for the Farmington Police Department in recent months.

On Dec. 20, Officer Brandt Warman fired five shots at Aztec resident Frankie Anchondo, 35, in an area north of U.S. Highway 64 in southeast Farmington during an attempted traffic stop.

The shooting occurred after Anchondo started to approach Warman with an electronic cigarette pointed at the officer after Anchondo exited his vehicle.

Joshua Kellogg covers crime, courts and social issues for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627 or via email at jkellogg@daily-times.com.