Crime
Ricardo Contreras Mendoza, the man who caught Quadruple murder suspect Austin Drummond
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The manhunt for quadruple murder suspect Austin Drummond came to an end Tuesday morning after he was captured by a Jackson resident, identified as Ricardo Contreras Mendoza, according to law enforcement.
Ricardo Contreras called police this morning when he saw Austin Drummond walking in the woods.
Drummond had been the subject of an intense, multi-agency search following the August 1 discovery of four family members fatally shot in Lake County, Tennessee.
The weeklong manhunt reached a critical point Tuesday after Drummond was spotted in a residential area of Jackson, Tennessee, prompting a shelter-in-place alert for residents near Saddlebrook Drive and Bridlepath Drive.
The Jackson Police Department issued a public safety message urging residents to:
“Shelter in place immediately. Lock all doors and windows, remain indoors, and avoid unnecessary travel.”
Authorities also blocked off roads in the Pleasant Plains and Country Club area as the search intensified.
Law enforcement said Ricardo Contreras Mendoza played a pivotal role in Drummond’s apprehension.
Details surrounding the exact circumstances of the capture have not yet been released, but officials confirmed that Mendoza was instrumental in spotting and detaining the fugitive until police arrived.
Drummond had evaded capture since last Tuesday, when he allegedly killed four relatives in Lake County. His abandoned vehicle was discovered in Jackson on Friday, leading authorities to believe he was hiding somewhere in the area.
On Sunday night, a home surveillance camera captured footage of Drummond on Pipkin Road, wearing camouflage, a backpack, and carrying a rifle. In one clip, he could be seen attempting to open a door.
The manhunt resulted in heightened police presence near Pleasant Plains Extension and Oil Well Road, as well as a temporary lockdown at Union University on Monday as sightings continued to pour in.
Authorities are now working to piece together the timeline of Drummond’s movements over the past week and determine whether anyone may have assisted him while he was on the run.
The Jackson Police Department is continuing its investigation and encourages anyone with further information to call 731-425-8400.
Crime
Agent Nic Graham Dies After Being Shot in Lakewood Police Shootout With Suspect Gabriel Garcia on RTD Bus
LAKEWOOD, Colorado — A Lakewood police agent who was critically wounded during a shootout with a suspect aboard an RTD bus has died, authorities confirmed. The fallen officer was identified as Nic Graham, a member of the Lakewood Police Department since 2019.
Graham was among four police agents injured Thursday evening when an armed confrontation erupted near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. A civilian bystander was also struck by gunfire.
The shooting followed a police search for a suspect connected to a hit-and-run crash reported earlier in the day.
Police said the incident initially began shortly before 3:45 p.m. Thursday, following a hit-and-run collision near Kipling Street and West 13th Avenue in Lakewood.
Witnesses told investigators that the suspect ran away almost immediately after the crash. However, they provided officers with a description that helped police identify and search for the individual.
Lakewood Police Public Information Agent John Romero said witnesses were able to give officers a useful description of the person who fled the scene.
Several hours later, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a Lakewood police agent recognized the individual boarding an RTD bus near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard.
Officers approached the suspect at approximately 6:32 p.m. Police said the individual opened fire on officers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Responding officers returned fire, striking the suspect. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene and was identified as Gabriel Garcia.
Garcia was reportedly on parole when the shooting occurred.
The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Four Lakewood police agents suffered gunshot wounds during the confrontation. Their injuries ranged from serious to critical, and all four were transported to nearby hospitals.
Despite receiving emergency medical treatment, Graham later died from his injuries.
One civilian bystander was also hit by gunfire and hospitalized. The person’s condition had not been publicly disclosed as of Friday afternoon.
Hospital updates released Friday morning indicated that two agents treated at Denver Health Medical Center had been released. Another remained hospitalized, while officials had not provided a complete update on the remaining injured individuals.
Graham began serving with the Lakewood Police Department in 2019 after graduating from the police academy.
Throughout his law enforcement career, he contributed to criminal investigations and earned recognition for his work.
One of his notable achievements came in 2023, when he received the department’s Special Investigations Unit Wingman Award for his contributions to investigations targeting gang members.
Police Chief Philip Smith paid tribute to Graham, highlighting his dedication, compassion and commitment to helping others.
Chief Smith said Graham demonstrated those qualities throughout his career, from his early days on patrol to his investigative work.
His death has left the department and the wider Lakewood community grieving the loss of an officer who dedicated his career to public service.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the circumstances that led to the deadly confrontation.
The shooting resulted in the death of suspect Gabriel Garcia, the fatal injury of Agent Nic Graham, injuries to three additional police agents and a civilian bystander.
Officials have not released a final investigative account of the incident. Further updates are expected as investigators establish the complete sequence of events.