EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Former Las Cruces Police officer Brad Lunsford was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter on Wednesday, Feb. 12, for shooting and killing Presley Eze at a gas station in 2022, the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) said in a news release.
“Today’s verdict reaffirms a fundamental principle: no one is above the law—not even those sworn to uphold it. Officer Lunsford’s actions were not just a tragic lapse in judgment; they were an egregious abuse of power that cost Presley Eze his life,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “The jury’s swift decision underscores the gravity of this case and sends a clear message that excessive force will not be tolerated in New Mexico. Our office will continue to hold law enforcement officers accountable when they violate the public trust and betray the communities they are meant to protect.”
As we previously reported, in August 2022 Lunsford began questioning Eze after he allegedly stole a beer and was unable to verify his identity.
Lunsford and another officer forcibly removed Presley from a vehicle to arrest him which resulted in a “scuffle” where Eze and the other officer ended up on the ground, with Eze over the officer, NMDOJ said.
NMDOJ said that during the struggle, Eze gained possession of the other officer’s taser, though it was never cycled or deployed.
In response, Lunsford immediately shot Eze on the back, left side of his head, at point-blank range. Eze died on the scene from his injuries, NMDOJ said.
As part of the investigation, special agents with the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office consulted with use-of-force experts who, upon reviewing the available footage, concluded that Lunsford’s use of deadly force was not reasonable under the circumstances and that other, less lethal options could have been used to subdue Eze, NMDOJ said.
NMDOJ said the trial lasted eight days with the jury only deliberating for two and a half hours before reaching their verdict.
The jury was presented with footage of the incident, expert use-of-force testimony, and many other exhibits that the state prepared, NMDOJ said.
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