Armando Silva: Mentally ill homeless man fatally stabs cop for 'no reason' before witness shoots him dead
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO: Police stated on Tuesday that a homeless individual with a track record of mental health issues and previous criminal charges fatally stabbed a New Mexico police officer, moments before being shot down by a witness.
According to New York Post, officer Jonah Hernandez, 35, from Las Cruces, was attending to a trespassing incident at a local business around 5 pm on Sunday when he was attacked by Armando Silva, a repeat offender.
Additional details regarding the killing and the deceased offender were disclosed during the press conference.
What happened at the crime scene?
During a press conference, Las Cruces Chief Jeremy Story revealed that Jonah Hernandez was dispatched to the scene without any backup following a call from the property owner. Story stated that Silva assaulted Hernandez with a large kitchen knife.
Furthermore, the police chief indicated that Silva fatally attacked Hernandez "for no reason whatsoever."
According to Story, a bystander retrieved a firearm from their vehicle and fatally shot Silva before using the officer's radio to call for assistance.
Hernandez was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Hernandez is the 14th officer killed in the line of duty in the US this year, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, and the first in the 96-year history of the Las Cruces force.
"We will forever mourn the loss of our brother," Jeremy Story said during the Tuesday news conference.
Silva'a criminal history
The Las Cruces Chief stated that Silva had an extensive history of violent crimes and mental health issues.
Story said, “He was convicted of serious violent crimes and spent some time in prison. He violated his probation and parole multiple times.”
The homeless individual's criminal record includes a 2015 conviction for kidnapping and aggravated battery against a household member, resulting in a prison sentence.
According to court records, Silva also received a three-year prison sentence in 2017 following a guilty plea in a domestic violence case.
Additionally, in 2019, he removed his GPS bracelet and was discovered in possession of drugs, as per ABC News.
A public safety assessment submitted in early 2023 revealed Silva's history of both misdemeanor and felony convictions, along with past instances of failure to appear in court.
Despite numerous probation violations, Silva was repeatedly returned to prison over the following years.
Who was Jonah Hernandez?
Jonah Hernandez, a two-year veteran of the Las Cruces Police force, graduated from the academy in June 2022 with the department's largest graduating class.
He is survived by his wife, Yesenia Lopez, and two sons, 10-year-old Sebastian Jonah and 2-year-old Joaquin Leonel.
The department paid tribute to Hernandez on Tuesday with an extensive police escort covering the 46-mile journey to his home in El Paso.
Story further claimed, "We, as a law enforcement agency, are still trying to process the sudden and senseless death of one of our officers. This isn’t something you practice or are accustomed to.”
He added, "Officer Jonah Hernandez was a compassionate and dedicated officer who was out doing his job while most of us were watching the Super Bowl. Jonah was attacked while making contact with the subject of a trespassing call. This sudden and unprovoked attack took the life of an officer, a husband, a father, brother, son, a friend and a great young man."
Police have no intention of recommending charges against the witness, who remains unidentified, for shooting Silva.
