EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The trial of a former Las Cruces Police officer accused of shooting and killing a man in 2002 got underway Tuesday, Feb. 4 in Las Cruces.
Brad Lunsford is facing a charge of voluntary manslaughter with a firearm enhancement. Lunsford is accused of shooting and killing Presley Eze at a gas station in August 2022.
As we previously reported, Lunsford began questioning Eze after he allegedly stole a beer and was unable to verify his identity.
A “scuffle” then ensued between Eze and another officer. Eze placed his hand on that officer’s taser, but did not use it.
That is when Lunsford shot Eze, according to the State Attorney General’s Office, which brought the charge against Lunsford.
Tuesday was day one of the jury trial and it started with opening statments from both the state and the defense.
The state argues that Lunsford should have used other means to stop Eze, like his taser or his baton. However, the defense argues that Lunsford was following police policy.
The prosecutor brought up their first witness, Las Cruces Police detective Rene Molenda. Molenda is part of the Multi-Agency Officer-involved Incident Task Force. He was the lead investigator in this officer-involved shooting.
Here is how the testimony went:
Prosecutor: “Did anyone ask why he didn’t consider other use of force?”
Molenda: “I don’t believe so.”
State prosecutor: “Did anyone ask why he didn’t give a verbal warning?”
Molenda: “No.”
The state’s second witness was a gas station clerk who was working at the time of the shooting.
“I can see (Eze) trying to pull away from them,” the gas station clerk said when asked about Eze’s encounter with Lunsford and the other officer.
The trial will continue Wednesday and KTSM is planning to bring you more coverage.
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