GALLUP — As has been previously reported, the Gallup Police Department was dispatched to the Redwood Lodge Motel in Gallup on June 5, a few minutes before midnight upon learning of a report of two men in a white Dodge truck with a firearm.

Officers located the truck and two men and a pursuit began when the truck drove around the motel parking lot, nearly struck the patrol unit, and merged onto New Mexico Statre Road 118.

The two men in the truck flashed their headlights and drove into opposing lane traffic before throwing objects at officers from the bed of the truck.

A Gallup Police Officer terminated the chase by firing at least one shot toward the truck.

The Dodge continued eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-40 until it struck a semi tractor-trailer head on. The two were killed when they were ejected.

The driver of the pickup was identified as Gerard John, 25 of Brimhall, N.M. The passenger was Ray Lee Jim, 21 of Wingate, N.M.

Upon further investigation, State Police Investigations Bureau agents learned John had two active felony arrest warrants from the Eleventh Judicial District Attorney’s Office for attempt to commit a felony namely: first degree murder, armed robbery, robbery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, two counts of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and receiving or transferring stolen vehicles.

The driver and passenger of the semi were not injured in the crash and their names will not be released.

No officers were injured during the incident.