A former police officer was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in relation to a fatal shooting incident at a New Mexico gas station. Las Cruces police Officer Brad Lunsford was found guilty by a jury on Wednesday for the death of a Black man during a confrontation in 2022. This latest legal outcome is part of a series of cases that prosecutors have linked to the systemic mistreatment of Black individuals by members of law enforcement, almost five years following the tragic killing of George Floyd in May 2020 in Minneapolis.
Lunsford, who is White, maintained his innocence throughout the trial. His defense attorney, Jose Coronado, stated that they will be requesting the judge to review the verdict for legal sufficiency. Expressing disappointment with the jury’s decision, Coronado mentioned that he doesn’t believe the state was able to meet its burden of proof.
Prosecutors alleged that Lunsford fatally shot Presley Eze at close range during a scuffle that occurred after police were called to the gas station by an attendant reporting a theft of beer by Eze. It was reported that Eze had touched another officer’s stun gun before being shot.
Attorney General Raúl Torrez criticized Lunsford’s use of deadly force as unreasonable, highlighting that Lunsford swiftly resorted to his service weapon and shot Eze in the back of the head. After the verdict was announced, Torrez emphasized the importance of accountability, stating, “Today’s verdict reaffirms a fundamental principle: no one is above the law — not even those sworn to uphold it. Officer Lunsford’s actions were not just a tragic lapse in judgment; they were an egregious abuse of power that cost Presley Eze his life.”
The charge of voluntary manslaughter with a firearms enhancement could lead to a sentence of up to nine years in prison for Lunsford. During the trial, evidence presented included body camera footage showing the confrontation as police pulled Eze from a vehicle, leading to the fatal altercation.
Philip Stinson, a criminal justice professor at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, explained the challenges of obtaining convictions in cases involving fatal shootings by on-duty officers. He mentioned the reluctance of jurors to question the split-second decisions made by police in potentially dangerous encounters.
Stinson’s research, in collaboration with colleagues and students, revealed that over the past two decades, 205 nonfederal law enforcement officers have been arrested for homicide or manslaughter, resulting in 66 convictions. Among these convictions, 27 were for manslaughter or homicide offenses.
In cases where convictions are secured, they often involve lesser offenses due to the complexities surrounding on-duty police actions. Stinson highlighted that each year, there are over 900 fatal shootings involving state and local law enforcement officers in the U.S.
Attorney General Torrez framed Eze’s death as a tragedy and emphasized the need for improved police tactics to prevent unjustifiable use of force in situations involving minor crimes. For
