Mountainair Police Patrolman Stephen Sandlin was shot and killed inside of the Mountainair Police Department building at approximately 7:30 pm on Saturday, May 7, 1988. The last person to talk to Steve before his death was his girlfriend. The two were making plans for the next day. At around 7pm, their conversation was interrupted by an unidentified female who came into the station. She felt that the two were getting loud and possibly arguing. When he came back on the phone, he said that it was “no big deal” and that he had to go. He then hung up the phone.