EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A former Las Cruces Police officer, who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter last month, was released from jail pending another hearing later this month, the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office said.
Lunsford was convicted of voluntary manslaughter on Feb. 12 in the shooting death of Presley Eze at a gas station in 2022 in Las Cruces.
Lunsford’s defense team filed several motions after his conviction.
A hearing was held on Friday, March 21 in Las Cruces.
Judge Jim Foy denied the defense motion for an acquittal despite the guilty verdict but heard arguments on a separate motion related to the final selection of jurors in the case.
After a lengthy argument by both defense lawyers and prosecutors, Foy reversed his prior decision to remand Lunsford into custody and released him on conditions until the resolution of the defense’s motions, the Attorney General’s Office said.
The next hearing in this case is set for March 28.
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