LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Las Cruces police released body camera footage from a fatal officer-involved shooting of a man who advanced toward an officer while armed with a hammer outside a Chili’s, KFOX 14 reported.
The Oct. 9 incident began around in the restaurant parking lot, according to the report. Multiple 911 callers reported a man with a hammer and a knife threatening customers.
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In the bodycam video, the responding officer initially approaches the restaurant but redirects upon locating the suspect in the parked car. The suspect is seen sitting behind the wheel, music playing, with his car windows down.
When asked to exit the vehicle, the suspect retrieves a claw hammer and steps out. The officer draws his firearm and repeatedly commands the suspect to stop and raise his hands. The suspect continues to walk toward the officer despite the warnings. After the suspect closes a distance of roughly 60 feet, the officer fires three shots, striking him in the chest.
After the man collapses, the officer calls for help and begins administering medical aid.
Additional officers arrive soon after, but the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story, who presented the video at a press conference, said the man had a documented history of mental illness and prior non-criminal encounters with police, including welfare checks and reports of erratic behavior. On the day of the shooting, he reportedly visited a local gun store asking for the cheapest firearm available, though he made no purchase.
After the shooting, officers recovered a knife in addition to the hammer.
Story responded to questions about the use of lethal force during the press conference.
“As a general rule, an officer is not going to use a less lethal tool for a lethal encounter when they are by themselves … If there had been multiple officers, there might have been multiple options, but there were not.”
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to the report.
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