The widow of a New Mexico State Police officer murdered during a traffic stop in February has filed a wrongful death lawsuit contending that her husband died because of the agency's negligence.
Gabriella Jarrott filed the lawsuit Friday in 1st Judicial District Court in Santa Fe on behalf of her minor children and as personal representative of the estate of Darian Jarrott. The lawsuit names the state Department of Public Safety as a defendant and alleges negligence, the Las Cruces Sun reports.
State Police declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Omar Cueva fatally shot Jarrott Feb. 4 after the trooper pulled him over along Interstate 10 east of Deming. Cueva, 39, then got into a chase and gunfight with authorities that ended with his death in Las Cruces.
State Police documents previously released to the Albuquerque Journal reveal that Cueva had been targeted in a federal drug sting involving a confidential informant and undercover agent.
Gabriella Jarrott's attorney Sam Bregman said he will also be filing a lawsuit against HSI, which tasked state police with Cueva's capture along I-10 as an alternative to arresting him during an undercover drug buy in Las Cruces.
The lawsuit alleges that state police and HSI had Jarrott make the traffic stop without any backup or protective gear and without informing him of "how dangerous Cueva was known to be."
