Selgado's brother: 'He wasn't an aggressive person'

The brother of a Clovis man shot by a state police officer on Sunday says he was a loving person who's criminal past did not define him.

Benjamin Theodore Selgado, 29, was shot and killed by a New Mexico State Police officer at the La Vista Inn parking lot after a short pursuit. State Police Capt. Jimmy Glascock said Selgado pointed a gun at officer Bryan Conner, who shot him in the chest three times.

Benjamin Selgado

Matthew Lopez, 28, of Clovis said criminal records don't paint the full picture of his brother. He described Selgado, who went by the nickname Teddy, as fun-loving, always joking around and was always willing to offer a helping hand. He said he wasn't an aggressive person and only became violent in self-defense.

According to a records search on nmcourts.com, Selgado's criminal history dates back to 2003 and included larceny, burglary, aggravated battery and trafficking of controlled substances.

"He did some bad stuff, but he wasn't a bad man, and there was people he always trying to help," Lopez said.

Selgado was one of six children, according to his brother, Isaac Lopez of Albuquerque. He said his brother was unemployed, not married but had six children.

Geraldine Lucero of Clovis, Selgado's sister-in-law, said he was the brother she never had.

"He always took care for us, he was always there for us. He loved my son," he said.

Lucero said Selgado loved being around his family and was a fan of rap music and the Dallas Cowboys.

Matthew Lopez said his brother was driving to the La Vista Inn on Mabry Drive where he was staying for a couple of days to pay for another night's stay when Conner, a nine-year veteran, tried to pull him over for speeding on Seventh Street. A vehicle and foot pursuit ensued that ended in Selgado's death.