Las Cruces police officer convicted of manslaughter in 2022 fatal shooting

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - A jury found former Las Cruces Police Officer Brad Lunsford guilty of voluntary manslaughter with a firearm enhancement for the 2022 shooting death of Presley Eze. The verdict was delivered Wednesday, Feb. 12, following an eight-day trial. Lunsford was taken into custody after the verdict was read.

The shooting occurred in August 2022 after police responded to a report of shoplifting at a Chevron gas station in Las Cruces. According to court documents, store employees accused Eze of stealing beer. Two officers confronted him, leading to a physical altercation.

Body camera footage showed officers pulling Eze from a vehicle, resulting in both Eze and an officer falling to the ground. Prosecutors said Eze attempted to grab an officer’s Taser when Lunsford fired a single shot to Eze’s head at close range.

The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office charged Lunsford with voluntary manslaughter in October 2023 after determining the use of deadly force was not justified and that less lethal options were available.

"Today’s verdict reaffirms a fundamental principle: no one is above the law — not even those sworn to uphold it," Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement. "The jury’s swift decision underscores the gravity of this case and sends a clear message that excessive force will not be tolerated in New Mexico."

Jurors deliberated for two and a half hours before reaching their decision.