EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The Las Cruces City Council approved on Monday, Jan. 6, the issuance and sale of taxable municipal gross receipts tax revenue bonds to pay a $20 million settlement with the family of a woman who was allegedly shot and killed by a former Las Cruces police officer in 2023.
The City of Las Cruces said the Council’s approval of the issuance and sale of bonds is for no more than $21 million with a bond maturity date no later than June 1, 2046. The City is calling this its largest settlement agreement in a civil lawsuit.
In November last year, the City of Las Cruces agreed to terms in a civil lawsuit brought by Teresa Gomez’s estate, 45, who was allegedly shot and killed by former Las Cruces Police Officer Felipe Hernandez on early Tuesday morning, Oct. 3, 2023, according to the news release.
Later in October 2023, a lawsuit was filed by Gomez’s estate in U.S. District Court, the City of Las Cruces said.
As we previously reported, an investigation by the Las Cruces Police and the Officer-involved Incident Task Force determined the actions on the morning of Oct. 3, 2023, warranted criminal charges against Hernandez.
Hernandez was arrested in January 2024 and is charged with a felony count of second-degree murder, the City of Las Cruces said.
The City of Las Cruces said that following an administrative investigation, Hernandez was relieved of his duties in May 2024.
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