Written by On October 3, 2023, Las Cruces Police Officer Felipe Hernandez was involved in a fatal shooting that resulted in the death of 45-year-old Teresa Gomez. The incident occurred during the early morning hours when Officer Hernandez confronted Gomez as she sat in a parked car outside a housing complex. Following a verbal exchange, Gomez attempted to drive away, at which point Hernandez fired multiple shots, leading to her death.
In January 2024, after an investigation by the Las Cruces Police Department and the Officer-involved Incident Task Force, Hernandez was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The investigation concluded that Hernandez was not in immediate danger when he discharged his weapon.
In November 2024, the City of Las Cruces agreed to a $20 million settlement with Gomez’s estate, marking the city’s largest civil lawsuit settlement to date. To finance this settlement, the Las Cruces City Council approved the issuance and sale of Taxable Municipal Gross Receipts Tax Revenue Bonds in January 2025.
Hernandez was relieved of his duties in May 2024 and no longer works for the City of Las Cruces. His criminal trial is scheduled to begin on June 2, 2025. The city has emphasized that the settlement does not imply criminal guilt, and Hernandez is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.