APD Identifies Man Who Died by Suicide During Encounter with Police

ALBUQUERQUE – APD investigators released the identity of the man who died during an encounter with police Thursday at a Northwest apartment complex.

Matthias Wynkoop, 40, died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head, according the preliminary autopsy performed by the Office of the Medical Investigator. While two officers fired their weapons, the autopsy did not reveal any other bullet wounds.

APD officers were dispatched Thursday afternoon to 4816 McMahon Blvd., N.W. in response to a suicide call. The male caller, later identified as Wynkoop, advised he was suicidal and armed with a firearm.

The preliminary investigation suggests two officers shot at Wynkoop as stood outside of his truck and pointed a firearm at police. Wynkoop got into the truck, and after a few moments, officers heard a shot from the direction of the truck. The truck immediately accelerated forward and crashed into a wall. Wynkoop was determined by medical personnel to be deceased as a result of a gunshot wound.

A handgun and a rifle were recovered from the truck.

Police were familiar with Wynkoop who attempted in the past to get officers to shoot him. The most recent incident involved a pursuit in October 2023 in which the Wynkoop led police throughout the city as he threatened suicide. He was eventually captured outside of the city. Another police agency used the Red Flag law to take several firearms from the man. Detectives are working to determine how the man had additional firearms that were used during Thursday’s incident.

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