New Mexico Police Officer Charged with Manslaughter Following Fatal Shooting
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A New Mexico police officer is facing criminal charges after shooting a man in the back of the head during an altercation. The incident occurred in August 2022 when a gas station attendant called 911 to report a man leaving without paying for a beer.
The first officer on the scene, Brad Lunsford of the Las Cruces Police Department, began questioning the man, later identified as Presley Eze, about the incident. Eze, a nurse working in the area, was unable to verify his identity, leading Lunsford and another officer to attempt to detain him.
Despite being unarmed and shirtless, Eze resisted the officers’ efforts to take him into custody. During the struggle, Eze managed to get his hands on the second officer’s taser. In response, Lunsford pulled out his gun and shot Eze in the back of the head, resulting in his death.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced that Lunsford has been charged with voluntary manslaughter with a firearm enhancement. Torrez stated that Eze never used the taser during the incident. Eze’s family, their attorneys, and the local NAACP were present as Torrez made the announcement on Tuesday.
“We determined that criminal charges were justified in this context,” Torrez said.
Lunsford surrendered to agents from the Office of the Attorney General and was taken into custody. Torrez confirmed that his office would not seek to keep Lunsford in jail before the trial.
However, questions have been raised about a possible cover-up by the city of Las Cruces, as public information regarding the incident was not initially released. An external attorney for the city denied these allegations, stating that they were surprised to learn about Lunsford’s criminal charges and had no prior communication with the attorney general.
In response to the incident, Torrez emphasized the need for independent investigators in cases like this throughout the state.
The case raises concerns about police use of force and the need for transparency in law enforcement. The charges against Lunsford highlight the importance of holding officers accountable for their actions and ensuring that independent investigations are conducted in such cases. As the trial progresses, many will closely follow the developments in this case, hoping for justice for Presley Eze and his family.