Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

NM Attorney General Charges Officer Over Fatal OIS

Officer Brad Lunsford was booked Tuesday, but officials did not detain him, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez.

by Staff
October 5, 2023
2 min to read


New Mexico's attorney general announced this week that a Las Cruces police officer has been charged with voluntary manslaughter over an officer-involved shooting at a gas station last summer.

NBC reports Officer Brad Lunsford was booked Tuesday, but officials did not detain him, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez told reporters at a news conference.

Ad Loading...

Lunsford shot Presley Eze at a Chevron gas station on the afternoon of Aug. 2, 2022 after an employee called 911 to report that Eze had left the store without paying for a beer, according to the attorney general's office.

Lunsford questioned Eze and, after he was "unable to verify Eze's identity," the officer "forcibly removed Eze from the vehicle in order to detain him," the attorney general's office said in a news release.

Eze, who was unarmed and shirtless, allegedly resisted attempts to take him into custody. The attorney general's office said a "scuffle ensued," with Eze ending up on the ground, on top of one of Lunsford and another officer who responded.

Eze put his hand on the second officer's taser and, in response, Lunsford drew his service weapon and shot Eze on the left side of his head at point-blank range, according to the news release.

“The killing of Presley Eze is a tragedy and serves as yet another example of poor police tactics resulting in an unjustifiable use of force to subdue an individual resisting arrest for the commission of a minor crime,” Attorney General Torrez said in a statement. “As New Mexico’s chief law enforcement officer, I have a duty to hold everyone accountable for violations of the law and that includes police officers who cross the line.” 

Ad Loading...


More Patrol

Group of men and women seated in a circle around a room as one woman stands and leads discussion.
PatrolApril 9, 2026

Warriors Heart’s Mission to Serve America’s Veterans and First Responders

Warriors Heart works closely with federal and community partners to expand treatment options for veterans and first responders. By combining specialized clinical care with a peer-driven recovery environment, the program helps warriors rebuild strength, restore relationships, and rediscover purpose.

Read More →
Black background with police card lights and logo for POLICE, with headline in yellow: How are LE Boots Different for Women
Patrolby Wayne ParhamApril 9, 2026

How are LE Boots Different for Women?

Boots fit differently for men and women, so how are law enforcement boots for women designed differently from those worn by men? In this video, Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, shares all the details.

Read More →
Man standing in desert talking on radio.
PatrolApril 9, 2026

Motorola Solutions Extends Resilient, Mission-Critical Communications and AI with T-Satellite from T-Mobile

A collaboration between Motorola Solutions and T-Mobile helps deliver uninterrupted situational awareness and access to AI wherever the mission leads, enabled by satellite connectivity for Motorola Solutions' APX NEXT smart radios.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Las Vegas skyline at dusk with headline 2026 Vision FirstNet Users Summit, dates for the event, and diagonally at bottom right words Registration Open.
PatrolApril 9, 2026

Registration Now Open for 2026 Vision FirstNet Users Summit

Registration is now open for the 2026 Vision FirstNet Users Summit. The Summit is an opportunity to connect with local and federal leaders, specifically the FirstNet Authority, which is hosting a track at the event this year.

Read More →
Two chest rig packs in camo in front of a blue themed SWAT background and a logo for Tasmanian Tiger.
PatrolApril 6, 2026

Tasmanian Tiger Launches Modular Chest Rig 4xM4 & Modular Chest Rig Pack for LE

Tasmanian Tiger has expanded its Modular Load-Carrying System with the new Modular Chest Rig 4xM4 and Modular Chest Rig Pack. Both provide adaptable, low-profile load options for military, law enforcement, and SWAT missions.

Read More →
Security worker watching computer monitors, with a white area at top with a logo for ZeroEyes.
PatrolApril 2, 2026

ZeroEyes Expands from AI Gun Detection to Knife Detection & Suspect Tracking

ZeroEyes has launched three new product categories to extend beyond firearms to address additional acute safety threats and basic security needs. Knife detection and suspect tracking are now also available.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
GALLS logo against a white box set atop a blue-tinted map of Tennessee.
PatrolApril 2, 2026

GALLS Acquires CMS Uniforms

GALLS has acquired CMS Uniforms and Equipment, Inc., a prominent regional provider based in Nashville, Tennessee. CMS Uniforms, founded in 2000, has built a reputation for delivering stellar customer service and managing complex uniform programs for more than 670 accounts.

Read More →
Police drone hovering over its charging nest against a blue sky background.
PatrolMarch 26, 2026

Brinc Unveils Guardian, Launching the Next Era of Drone as First Responder

Brinc’s new Guardian delivers 24/7 operations, Starlink connectivity, and a robotic charging nest that can swap batteries and change payload configurations without human intervention.

Read More →
image of trooper, shown from waist down, standing beside a police cruiser along the road and at right a headline Slow Down Move Over.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Colorado State Patrol Releases 2025 Struck-By Analysis

The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Image of a group of men in business attire receiving an award set against a black background and a Streamlight logo up top.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year

Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.

Read More →