On January 24, 2017, a deadly officer-involved shooting occurred outside a Lowe's grocery store located at 1410 Missouri Avenue in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The incident resulted in the death of 29-year-old Jeremy Lopez-Robledo, who was wanted by the U.S. Marshals Office for violating the terms of his probation.
Lopez-Robledo, a suspected Las Cruces gang member, had a lengthy and tumultuous criminal history, including previous assaults on police officers.
On the morning of the incident, a U.S. Marshals task force, which included officers from the Las Cruces Police Department located Lopez-Robledo near the Solano Square shopping center shortly after 11 a.m. When officers attempted to contact him, Lopez-Robledo fled, leading them on a brief foot pursuit toward the entrance of the Lowe's grocery store.
During the chase, officers caught up to Lopez-Robledo as he approached the store's entrance, where the automatic doors failed to open. One of the officers deployed a Taser, but it had no effect on Lopez-Robledo. LCPD Officer Manuel Frias then attempted to restrain him, but Lopez-Robledo physically resisted and fought with the officers. Despite efforts to take him to the ground, Lopez-Robledo continued to resist and was found to be armed with a folding knife, which he swung aggressively toward the officers.
The situation escalated as officers realized the threat posed by Lopez-Robledo's knife. They created distance, and Officer Frias drew his sidearm, firing four shots that struck Lopez-Robledo. Lopez-Robledo was subsequently transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. It was later discovered that Officer Frias had been cut by Lopez-Robledo's knife during the altercation, though his injuries were not severe.
The investigation into the shooting was conducted by the Officer-involved Incident Task Force, which includes detectives from the New Mexico State Police, LCPD, the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office, and New Mexico State University Police. The task force reviewed video footage from the store's surveillance cameras and body cameras worn by the officers, as well as statements from independent eyewitnesses. The evidence supported that Lopez-Robledo had the knife in his hand in an aggressive and threatening manner from the onset of contact with the officers.
Prior to the incident, Lopez-Robledo's mother had visited the LCPD and informed an officer that her son was not taking his medication and was not armed. However, this claim was later determined to be false. The Third Judicial District Attorney's Office reviewed the evidence and concluded that Officer Frias's actions were justified, leading to his clearance of wrongdoing. Following standard protocol, Frias was initially placed on administrative leave but has since returned to regular duty with the LCPD.
Lopez-Robledo's history of aggression toward police and his known tendency to carry deadly weapons were significant factors in the investigation and the subsequent justification of the officer's actions. The incident highlights the complexities and dangers involved in law enforcement interactions with individuals who have a history of violent behavior and resistance to arrest.
