Latest news with #LasCrucesPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Las Cruces Police: 14-year-old dead after alleged road rage shooting
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A 14-year-old boy is dead after a shooting 'believed to have stemmed from a road rage incident' on Monday evening, June 2, in Las Cruces, the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) said in a news release. LCPD said that at 9 p.m. on Monday, officers were dispatched to reports of shots fired near the intersection of Solano Drive and Spruce Avenue. Officers arrived to find a 14-year-old boy suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene, according to LCPD. The name of the victim is being withheld for now as police continue to gather more information and contact the family, LCPD said. LCPD said investigators believe the incident stemmed from a road rage confrontation, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation. No arrests have been made at this time. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police at (575) 526-0795. Information can be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Las Cruces-Dona Ana County at 1-800-222-8477. Tips can also be provided through the Las Cruces Crime Stoppers app, 'P3 TIPS.' The app is available through the App Store on most devices. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former LCPD officer Felipe Hernandez goes on trial June 2. Here's what to know
On June 2, 2025, former Las Cruces Police Department officer Felipe Hernandez will face a jury trial for his involvement in the death of 45-year-old Teresa Gomez in 2023. Hernandez is charged with second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement. He is accused of allegedly shooting Gomez in October 2023. Body camera footage showed Hernandez firing at Gomez several times as Gomez attempted to drive away after an interaction at an apartment. Former Doña Ana County District Attorney Gerald Byers announced charges in January 2024. Hernandez is no longer employed by LCPD, according to the City of Las Cruces. He was a LCPD officer for eight years and was assigned to the Community Outreach unit. The criminal trial, originally scheduled for December 2024, was moved to June 2025. The trial is scheduled to last four days with 3rd Judicial District Court judge Richard Jacquez presiding. On Oct. 3, 2023, Hernandez was bicycle patrolling when he approached Gomez, who was sitting on the driver side of a parked vehicle with Jesus Garcia in the passenger seat. They were parked outside a public housing complex. Hernandez shouted various expletives and commands at the two people, threatening to use his stun gun on them if they did not comply, according to the incident report. After several minutes of exchanges, exiting and returning to the vehicle, Gomez was attempting to drive away when Hernandez shot at her three times. Court records note that Gomez's manner of death is listed as homicide by the University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner. The cause of death is reported to be 'gunshot wound of chest.' 'What we can tell you is that from the very beginning of Mr. Hernandez's interactions with Ms. Gomez, ability to manage protocol is non-existent. His interactions with her just on a human level was exceptionally subpar and certainly did not meet the standards that LCPD demands of its officers when they are encountering civilians in the field,' Byers said. In November 2024, the Sun-News reported on a $20 million settlement to a wrongful death lawsuit that the estate of Teresa Gomez filed in January 2024 in U.S. District Court. The settlement is the largest civil lawsuit in the history of the City. The City of Las Cruces, Hernandez, the Las Cruces Police Department, LCPD Chief Jeremy Story, former chief Miguel Dominguez and Deputy Chief Sean Mullen were listed as defendants. In January 2025, Las Cruces City Council approved a financing option to pay out the settlement. Per the November 2024 settlement agreement, the City has already issued an initial $2 million from the City legal department liability fund. The remaining monies will be financed through the issuance and sale of Taxable Municipal Gross Receipts Tax Revenue Bonds. The move will not raise taxes. Hernandez has also filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the Las Cruces Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8. The lawsuit states that a portion of Union dues are used for a legal defense fund for officers who are involved in officer involved shootings. The lawsuit was filed on March 12, 2025. According to court documents, Hernandez applied for legal defense funding, but was denied due to what Union representatives described as a lapse in dues in March 2022 that had not been re-instated. According to the lawsuit, Hernandez said his dues were current. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: LCPD officer Felipe Hernandez tried in homicide of Teresa Gomez
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bridging the Badge highlights ‘constitutional policing'
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Las Cruces Police Department's legal adviser Erik Scramlin will be the guest speaker during the next Bridging the Badge livestream scheduled for Tuesday, May 20. The Bridging the Badge livestream begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 and can be viewed on the Las Cruces Police Department's Facebook page and on the City of Las Cruces' YouTube channel. Scramlin will discuss 'What is Constitutional Policing and Why it Matters.' This episode of Bridging the Badge will focus on LCPD's goal of providing significant training in legal education and the importance of protecting civil rights while enforcing the law. Questions for LCPD and Scramlin can be left in the comments on LCPD's Facebook page. Bridging the Badge programs are intended to promote understanding, collaboration, and informed dialogue on topics important to residents of Las Cruces, the Las Cruces Police said. Each livestream is anticipated to last about one hour. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police release identity of man killed in officer-involved shooting in Las Cruces
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KRQE) — The Las Cruces Police Department has released the identity of the man who was killed in an officer-involved shooting on Walnut Street last Thursday. According to police, 18-year-old Josiah Perrault died from injuries sustained during the shooting. Teen accused of killing a woman searching for her stolen car is set to begin trial A different man police believe is involved was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The 'Officer-Involved Incident Task Force' is investigating the shooting. This includes agents from New Mexico State Police, the Las Cruces Police Department, Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office and New Mexico State University Police. A news conference is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20. Las Cruces police say it's delayed until next week 'to allow witness interviews to be completed and to permit Chief Jeremy Story and other LCPD personnel to attend National Police Week in Washington, D.C.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Las Cruces Police to hold news conference on officer-involved shooting that killed 1, injured another
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A news conference will be held later this month about the officer-involved shooting that killed one and injured another on Thursday morning, May 8, across from Lynn Middle School in Las Cruces, the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) announced in a news release. Man dead after officer-involved shooting near Lynn Middle School in Las Cruces The news conference will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20, in Council Chambers at City Hall, 700 N. Main St. 'Due to the unfortunate timing of this incident, and with many of our department members traveling to Washington, D.C., for National Police Week to honor Officer Jonah Hernandez, we will delay having a news conference until after our return,' Chief Jeremy Story said. 'We appreciate the community's understanding as we balance our commitment to honoring our heroes with our responsibility to provide transparency in this ongoing investigation.' LCPD said National Police Week is from May 11-17. As we previously reported, a man died, and another person suffered non-life-threatening injuries as a result of an officer-involved shooting that happened at around 6:30 a.m. Thursday at the 900 block of Walnut Street, which is located across Lynn Middle School. However, LCPD said the shooting did not happen on the school campus. LCPD said the officer involved in the incident was not injured. He has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure for such an incident. The Officer-involved Incident Task Force continues investigating, and detectives have yet to confirm the identity of the man who died, LCPD said. LCPD said the Officer-involved Incident Task Force includes investigators from New Mexico State Police, the Las Cruces Police Department, Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office and New Mexico State University Police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
