Death by Cop 2022-2024
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Teresa Gomez
Gender : Female
Age : 40
Race : Latino/a/e
Date : 10/03/2019
Location : 1300 block of Burley Court
City : Las Cruces
County : Doña Ana
State : New Mexico
Agency : Las Cruces Police Department
Officer(s) :Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during traffic stop
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On October 3, 2019, Officer Felipe Hernandez approached Teresa Gomez, who was sitting in her car near the Las Cruces Recreation Center. Because Gomez had an outstanding warrant related to an incident involving an individual with felony charges, she attempted to drive away in her car. Officer Hernandez fired at least three shots at her vehicle as she tried to leave, with one of the shots fatally striking her. She had been unarmed, nonconfrontational and even asked the agitate3d officer in a calm tone, “Can you be nice?” She died from the fatal shooting.
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After Teresa Gomez's death, Officer Felipe Hernandez was placed on administrative leave. The incident led to an internal investigation. In January 2024, Hernandez was charged with second-degree murder, and in May 2024, he was fired from the Las Cruces Police Department. The city in November of 2024 agreed to a $20 million settlement with Gomez’s family, although this settlement did not indicate Hernandez's criminal guilt
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Officer Felipe Hernandez has not been cleared. He was charged with second-degree murder in January 2024 and will go to trial in June 2025.
SOURCE LINKS :
• https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/las-cruces-reaches-20-million-settlement-with-family-of-woman-shot-killed-by-officer-teresa-gomez-felipe-hernandez
• https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/2019/10/04/las-cruces-police-shoot-woman-during-traffic-stop/3847131002/
