Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Presley Eze
Age : 36
Gender : Male
Race : Black
Date : 08/02/2022
Location : Chevron gas station, 2645 South Valley Drive
City : Las Cruces
County : Dona Ana
State : New Mexico
Agency : Las Cruces PD
Officer(s) :Brad Lunsford
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police after shoplifting beer
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 08/02/2022, Las Cruces Police Department officers responded to the Chevron gas station at 2645 South Valley Drive after employees reported that Presley Eze had taken beer without paying. The first responding officer was unable to verify the identifying information Eze provided and requested backup. After a second officer arrived, the officers attempted to detain Eze by removing him from his vehicle. A physical struggle followed outside the vehicle.
During the struggle, Officer Brad Lunsford fired one round, striking Eze in the head. Eze died at the scene. One officer sustained a non-life-threatening injury during the altercation. Body-worn camera video was released on October 19, 2022, showing the events leading up to the shooting.
On October 3, 2023, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez charged Officer Brad Lunsford with voluntary manslaughter with a firearm enhancement. The Attorney General alleged that Eze was unarmed and that the use of deadly force was not legally justified under the circumstances.
