Bernalillo County Deputy Fired After Rifle Used in Killing

Sheriff's office terminated deputy after his county-issued AR-15 was used in a New Year's Day homicide.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:18am

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An extreme close-up of a damaged AR-15 rifle magazine, the metal surface reflecting the harsh light of the camera flash against a dark background, conveying a stark, gritty, and investigative aesthetic.A county-issued rifle used in a fatal shooting exposes security lapses and the need for stricter firearm protocols.Albuquerque Today

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office has fired a deputy after his county-issued AR-15 rifle was used in a New Year's Day killing in Albuquerque. Sheriff John Allen said the deputy, Jacob Zamora, failed to report the rifle as stolen and instead replaced it with his personal weapon to avoid detection.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about firearm security and accountability within the sheriff's office, as well as the potential for county-issued weapons to be misused in violent crimes. It also highlights the need for stricter protocols around reporting lost or stolen firearms by law enforcement.

The details

According to Sheriff Allen, Deputy Zamora had worked for the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office for a year before being terminated on April 7. Zamora's county-issued AR-15 was used in a New Year's Day killing in downtown Albuquerque, but Zamora did not report the rifle as stolen. Instead, he replaced it with his personal AR-15 to avoid detection. Police say Peyton Reagan pulled the trigger, killing Alexander Wilson, while Dominic Martinez helped him.

  • The shooting occurred on New Year's Day in downtown Albuquerque.
  • Deputy Zamora was fired by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office on April 7, 2026.

The players

Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that employed Deputy Zamora and issued him the AR-15 rifle used in the killing.

Jacob Zamora

A former deputy with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office who failed to report his county-issued AR-15 as stolen, and instead replaced it with his personal weapon.

Peyton Reagan

The individual who police say pulled the trigger and killed Alexander Wilson on New Year's Day.

Dominic Martinez

The individual who police say helped Peyton Reagan commit the New Year's Day killing.

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What they’re saying

“When his firearm was stolen – he did not report his firearm to be stolen to us, or anyone at all. Until we found out from the ATF that our rifle was used in the commission of a homicide.”

— John Allen, Bernalillo County Sheriff

What’s next

Any potential criminal charges against Deputy Zamora will be determined by the Albuquerque Police Department and the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the critical need for law enforcement agencies to have robust protocols in place for securing and tracking department-issued firearms, as well as swiftly reporting any lost or stolen weapons to prevent them from being used in violent crimes.