Damian Herrera murdered his parents and younger brother at their family home in La Madera, NM, June 15. He later robbed and killed two other men before his arrest on the same day.
A college student accused of killing five people in a shooting spree was filmed trying to escape jail by locking a guard in his cell and attacking officials with a flashlight.Newly released footage shows Damian Herrera brazenly trying to escape jail for the second time after being locked up for allegedly shooting five people in Rio Arriba, New Mexico, last month.
Damian Herrera killed his stepfather Max Trujillo Sr., 55, and 20-year-old brother Brendan Herrera, following a domestic dispute. His mother Maria Rosita Gallegos, 49, was left on life support after the incident and later died.
Authorities the suspect went on to kill two total strangers, retired Archaeologist Michael Kyte, 61, and 51-year-old Manuel Serrano before he was stopped by police.
Making his second attempt at a break-out, Herrera was caught on camera shutting a guard in his cell and using a flashlight to batter another official in the head.
Herrera ended up in a shocking wrestling match with several other guards, as the prisoner was Tasered and restrained in his violent escape attempt on July 15.
Now police are attempting to have the man accused of killing three of his family members and two strangers transferred to a prison for the safety of the community.
The jailhouse surveillance footage shows Damian Herrera, 21, brazenly trying to escape jail by using a flashlight to attack guards in Rio Arriba, New Mexico, on July 15
The 21-year-old college student is accused of fatally shooting the five victims, including three of his own family members, in a murderous rampage on June 15
In the filmed escape attempt that took seven minutes, Herrera managed to trap a jail guard in his cell after complaining that his toilet was broken, reported KOAT.
The surveillance video begins by showing an on-duty guard entering into Herrera’s cell to check on the ‘broken toilet’, with Herrera slowly wandering outside the room.
Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan added to KOAT: ‘He told one of the guards that was on duty that his toilet wasn’t working.
‘So the guard went ahead and opened the door to check the toilet. When he went in to check the toilet, Mr. Herrera locked him into the cell.’
In no particular hurry, a shirtless Herrera then wanders into the guard station before spotting a flashlight under a desk.
He then quickly picks it up before running and hiding behind a corner of a wall, as he hears another guard approaching.
Lujan said: ‘As the guard passed the corner of the wall, [Herrera] struck him with a flashlight and then a fight ensued. So they had a wrestling match going around in the booking area.’
Herrera’s his violent escape attempt is captured on camera as he ended up in a demented physical tussle with several other guards, even as he was Tasered and restrained
Gallery of victims:
Herrera’s victims include his stepfather Max Trujillo Sr. [left], and his mother Maria Rosita Gallegos [right], following a domestic dispute
Herrera is also accused of killing his brother Brendan Herrera[left], and archaeologist Michael Kyte [right], before stealing the later’s truck. Authorities say he went on to kill one other male, Manuel Serrano, before he was arrested by police
Manuel Serano [photo and right with his family], a random stranger, was the last fatality of Damian Herrera’s June 15 shooting rampage
Now police are attempting to have Herrera transferred to a state prison for the safety of the officers and the community
Herrera’s shooting spree allegedly began at his family’s home [photo], inLa Madera, NM, on June 15. He was arrested the same day after he allegedly, killing his stepfather, Max Trujillo Sr., 55 and younger brother, Brendan at the family residence in what appeared to be a domestic dispute.
Herrera also reportedly shot his mother, Maria Rosita Gallegos, 49, who was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but was taken off life support and died on June 16.
After leaving his family home in La Madera, authorities say that Herrera then went to Tres Piedras, New Mexico, where he killed Michael Kyte, 61, a retired archaeologist, at his home and stole his truck.
Herrara then shot and killed his final victim, Manuel Serrano, 59, of Youngsville, New Mexico, at Bode’s General Store in Abiquiu in Rio Arriba County, authorities said.
Authorities said that Herrera did not know either Kyte or Serrano prior to killing them, according to KOAT.
EMTs transport Maria Rosita Gallegos who was shot by her son. She died a day later on June 16
Herrera is also accused of having killed retired archaeologist Michael Kyte, 61, in his home.
Sheriff’s deputies spotted Herrera driving Kyte’s stolen pickup and began chasing him southbound on US 84.’Herrera was driving so fast that when he came upon a curve he was unable to maintain his lane of travel and veered into oncoming traffic,’ State Police said. The pickup then over-corrected to avoid an oncoming state police vehicle headed to the Abiquiu shooting site, and crashed into a tree.
Herrera got out of the crashed pickup, ran toward deputies and was arrested after a scuffle and use of a stun gun, the state police said.
During the scuffle, Herrera tried to disarm a deputy whose gun discharged but no one was injured by the shot, officials said.
District Attorney Marco Serna said his office will charge Herrera with five counts of open murder. The killings: “are horrific, senseless and have rocked northern New Mexico to its core,” Serna said.
Herrera, reportedly a sophomore at University of New Mexico-Taos, is being held without bond, according to the Sante Fe New Mexican.
Multiple homicide suspect Damian Herrera attempted to overpower guards and escape custody at the Rio Arriba prison in NM on July 15
Damian Herrera was arraigned via video screen in Rio Arriba County Magistrate Court on Thursday
Herrera also reportedly told officials that he acted in self-defense again when he shot the two strangers.
He was arraigned via video and a judge entered no plea on his behalf.
During the arraignment, Herrera was said to have answered questions calmly and without emotion.
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