45-Year-Old Grandmother Shot Dead by New Mexico Police Officer: Family Demands Answers

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Grandmother from New Mexico Shot Dead by Police Officer Sparking Outrage and Demands for Justice

In a tragic turn of events, a 45-year-old grandmother from New Mexico was shot dead by a Los Cruces police officer in a confrontation that has left her devastated family demanding answers. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning on October 3rd, just before 5am, when Officer Felipe Hernandez, an eight-year veteran with the force, encountered Teresa Gomez and another man, Julio Garcia, in a parked car at a housing complex.

Officer Hernandez recognized Garcia from previous encounters and knew that he was prohibited from being on the premises due to a trespassing violation. Accusing Garcia of violating a judge’s order, the officer began speaking with Gomez. However, what should have been a routine encounter quickly escalated into tragedy.

Bodycam footage of the incident reveals Officer Hernandez using profanities and threats towards Gomez, insinuating that she may have been trespassing at the housing complex. Gomez, in her defense, explained that she was searching for her lost car keys and acknowledged that she was looking for someone at the location. Throughout the interaction, the officer’s language grew increasingly aggressive, threatening to “tase” her and make her life “a living hell” if she did not comply with his investigation.

Despite Gomez’s calm demeanor, Officer Hernandez questioned their presence outside the public housing complex, claiming that her passenger was also not supposed to be there. Gomez maintained that she was unaware of any specific visitor rules. Eventually, she complied with the officer’s request to exit the vehicle and answer his questions.

After finding her car keys and receiving permission from Officer Hernandez, Gomez returned to the driver’s seat with her car door still open. However, just moments later, she started the engine and began to back out of her parking spot. In response, Officer Hernandez repeatedly shouted for her to stop before opening fire three times, striking Gomez at least once.

The grandmother immediately began bleeding from her neck and struggled to breathe. She was rushed to a hospital but tragically succumbed to her injuries. Gomez’s grieving family has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging excessive force in violation of her civil rights.

The shocking video of the police encounter and subsequent shooting was played during a news conference at Las Cruces City Hall, leaving many in the community outraged. The family’s attorney, Shannon Kennedy, criticized the Las Cruces Police Department’s lack of internal oversight and supervision, arguing that it has allowed a culture of aggression to develop, leading to the unnecessary death of Teresa Gomez.

It has also come to light that Officer Hernandez had been involved in several use-of-force incidents prior to this incident. As investigations are ongoing, he has been placed on paid administrative leave. Interim Police Chief Jeremy Story acknowledged the concern surrounding controversial officer-involved shootings and stated that the department would conduct a thorough review of training, policy, and equipment.

The tragic killing of Teresa Gomez has left her family in shock and disbelief. Her son, Johny Gomez, expressed his pain at witnessing the disrespectful way in which the officer spoke to his mother. Angela Lozano-Gutierrez, Teresa Gomez’s sister, added that the encounter seemed to be progressing towards a peaceful resolution, making her death all the more shocking.

As the investigation into this incident continues, the community of Los Cruces and Gomez’s family hope that justice will be served. The demand for police accountability and improved training has only grown stronger, highlighting the need for reform within law enforcement agencies to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future..