EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Angelica Lujan, the mother of 30-year-old Xavier Hernandez, is asking for the public’s help with photos or videos of the incident that resulted in the death of her son.
As reported, Hernandez was shocked with a stun gun multiple times by an El Paso police officer and later died. According to an autopsy report obtained by KTSM, Hernandez’s death was ruled a homicide. His cause of death determined to be asphyxia due to chest compression while being subdued and restrained by law enforcement.
“With the first few words that were coming out of his mouth, you could tell he was not well. My son started asking for his badge number for the officer and he just switched, and, just turned immediately, and it escalated as if my son was a criminal. He’s unarmed and ultimately was face down on 130-degree asphalt. Burning asphalt. Handcuffed. Beaten. Tased. And ultimately, you know, passed,” Lujan said.
EPPD released body camera footage of the responding officer that shows the officer approaching Hernandez and using the stun gun on him.
In the footage, a struggle ensues before two other men and another officer assist in subduing Hernandez. However, in the video released by EPPD there is a portion missing from when Hernandez is placed into handcuffs and when EMS arrives.
“We don’t know the full truth. Yes, they released body cam footage of one officer. There was more than one officer there on scene. Why hasn’t any of that footage been released? And why was the footage that they did release, why was there a huge portion missing? I want to know about crisis intervention. I want to know were they dispatched,” Lujan said.
Sgt. Robert Gomez, a spokesman for the El Paso Police Department, said the body-camera footage was released in the interest of the department being transparent.
Gomez said three investigations are looking into the incident: one criminal by the Department’s Crimes Against Persons Unit, an independent one by the Texas Rangers and one by the Police Department’s Administrative Unit.
As the multiple investigations continue, Lujan is asking for anyone with information to reach out to her family’s legal team.
According to the law firm, tips will be kept confidential. Photos and videos can be sent to tips@justiceforxavier.com with a 24/7-hour tip line available by calling 888-707-1911.
“My world forever changed that day. Everything I believed in no longer exists. I’m not saying that people are bad, but it’s just people make mistakes. It’s understandable. It happens. But it’s like, own up to it,” Lujan said.
“I need to know the truth. We, as a community, need to know the truth. The only ones that know that are the cops that were there, that were present, the bystanders that were watching and my son. My son is no longer here, so I can’t ask him. That’s why I’m asking anybody else that they have seen anything to please come forward with it,” she said.
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