Teresa Gomez death: Felipe Hernandez arrested as clip shows cop shooting New Mexico grandmother 3 times
LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO: Felipe Hernandez, an eight-year veteran of the Las Cruces Police Department in New Mexico, has been charged with murder following the shooting of 45-year-old Teresa Gomez.
A harrowing bodycam footage captured the grandmother being shot three times as she attempted to drive away during questioning by Hernandez on October 3, 2023.
Timeline of Teresa Gomez's shooting
Teresa Gomez and her friend Jesus Garcia, 38, were initially stopped by Hernandez around 5 am at a public housing complex. T
he officer recognized Garcia and began accusing him of trespassing and violating a judge's order while conversing with Gomez.
In a harrowing turn of events captured on a nine-minute bodycam footage, Hernandez's interactions with Gomez quickly escalated.
Despite Gomez's attempts to explain and locate her car keys, tensions rose when Garcia revealed a paintball gun.
The situation further deteriorated as Hernandez, using aggressive language and profanities, demanded Gomez to step out of the vehicle. The officer threatened to use a taser, and after a series of heated exchanges, Gomez reluctantly complied.
"From the very beginning of Mr Hernandez’s interaction with Ms Gomez, the ability to manage protocol is non-existent. His interactions with her, just on a human level, was exceptionally subpar and certainly did not meet the standards that LCPD demands of its officers," Dona Ana County District Attorney Gerald Byers said, as per Daily Mail.
Tension between Felipe Hernandez and Teresa Gomez rose
As the encounter unfolded, Hernandez continued to question Gomez's presence at the housing complex, threatening to make her life difficult and tow her car.
Gomez, seemingly bewildered by the accusations, expressed her innocence. Eventually, she found her car keys and sought permission to re-enter her vehicle.
Tragically, moments after Gomez started her car and began to drive away with the door still open, Officer Hernandez opened fire, shooting her three times. Gomez, bleeding from her neck, was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
Gomez's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging excessive force and violation of civil rights. The family is struggling to comprehend the tragic outcome of what initially seemed like a routine encounter with law enforcement.
Hernandez, who was involved in previous use-of-force incidents, has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation's conclusion. If convicted of murder, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
