A Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office helicopter known as Metro 2 crashed Saturday night just outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico, killing four people aboard. The helicopter and crew members were helping manage a wildfire in the area.
According to CNN, three first responders from the sheriff’s office and one responder with the county's fire department were killed in the crash. They were identified as Undersheriff Larry Koren, 55, Lt. Fred Beers, 51, and Deputy Michael Levison, 30, all of the sheriff's office, and Rescue Specialist Matthew King, 44, of Bernalillo County Fire Rescue.
Colleen Aycock of Albuquerque, a neighborhood safety advocate and member of Women Taking Back our Neighborhoods, expressed her shock at the news.
Undersheriff Larry Koren, Lt. Fred Beers, Deputy Michael Levison and Rescue Specialist Matthew King were killed in Saturday's crash.
| Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office
"It is so very tragic to lose our dear, dear officers and friends," Aycock told New Mexico Sun. "No words can express our shock and loss. As everyone knows, BCSO has never failed us on any of our missions on the streets or in our work. They have always put our interests above theirs."
A release from the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office said the helicopter crew had departed Albuquerque to assist with the East Mesa Fire and was helping crews on the ground with air logistics and bucket drops to help put out the fire.
According to the release, the cause of the crash is unknown and a multiagency investigation is ongoing. BCSO is working with the Office of the Medical Investigator to recover the fallen from the site of the crash.
Women Taking Back Our Neighborhoods is a citizen activist group founded in 2018 to inform the public and demand greater accountability from elected officials and civic leaders to prevent crime and keep communities safe, according to New Mexico Sun.