Las Cruces Officer Faces Charges of Manslaughter in Fatal Shooting of Black Nurse
Las Cruces police officer Brad Lunsford has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in relation to the shooting and killing of Black nurse Presley Eze, according to New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. The incident occurred outside a gas station in August 2022 and has reignited debates surrounding police tactics and the use of force.
Attorney General Torrez expressed his condolences, referring to the killing of Presley Eze as a tragedy and citing it as another example of excessive force by police officers during the apprehension of individuals suspected of minor offenses. Torrez emphasized his duty as the chief law enforcement officer in New Mexico to hold everyone accountable for violations of the law, including police officers who overstep their boundaries.
The initial confrontation between police and Eze began when he exited the gas station with an unpaid item. Officers questioned him and attempted to detain him, leading to a physical altercation. A cellphone video, not included in this story out of respect for the Eze family, reportedly shows Lunsford shooting Eze in the back of the head at close range after Eze touched the officer’s taser.
In response to the charges, civil rights advocates have expressed their appreciation for the New Mexico Attorney General’s pursuit of accountability. Doña Ana County NAACP President Bobbie Green commended the decision, acknowledging that while it cannot bring Presley Eze back, it may provide some solace to his grieving family. Green extended her thoughts, prayers, and complete support to the Eze family, particularly the young child who will grow up without a father.
Presley Eze’s killing has caused outrage and controversy in Las Cruces and across New Mexico, with advocates claiming it is symptomatic of a wider pattern of police officers disproportionately targeting Black individuals for enforcement and violence. In May 2023, Eze’s family filed a lawsuit against the City of Las Cruces, accusing them of withholding video evidence and impeding investigations. They have also been advocating for the establishment of a police oversight committee, which they believe would facilitate collaboration rather than opposition with the city authorities.
Police brutality remains a significant issue in the United States, with Black people disproportionately affected by such violence. Calls for international authorities, including the International Criminal Court, to investigate cases of police violence against Black individuals have been made by human rights experts. These charges against Officer Lunsford come in the wake of the Derek Chauvin trial in Minnesota, where his conviction for the killing of George Floyd sparked the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.
The incident involving Brad Lunsford and Presley Eze has once again brought attention to the need for accountability and improved police practices. As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome of this case will undoubtedly be watched closely by advocates for police reform and justice for victims of police violence.
