Former Las Cruces Officer Convicted of Manslaughter in Shooting Death

Former Las Cruces police officer Brad Lunsford has been found guilty of voluntary manslaughter for the fatal shooting of Presley Eze Jr., a 36-year-old Black man, during a 2022 incident at a New Mexico gas station. The jury determined that Lunsford's use of deadly force was unreasonable after he shot Eze at point-blank range while responding to a report of theft. Attorney General Raúl Torrez emphasized that the verdict reinforces the principle that no one, including law enforcement officers, is above the law. The case highlighted ongoing concerns regarding police accountability and the use of excessive force, particularly against Black individuals. Lunsford faces a potential sentence of up to nine years in prison, with sentencing to be determined later. The trial included police body camera footage and expert testimony on use-of-force protocols.