In a pivotal moment during the murder trial of former Las Cruces Police Officer Felipe Hernandez, he testifies that he feared for his life on the night he shot Teresa Gomez, claiming he had no choice but to use deadly force. As he detailed his background in military service and law enforcement, Hernandez emphasized the volatile nature of the encounter, particularly when he perceived a gun in a male companion’s waistband, later identified as a paintball gun.
Hernandez recounted how the situation escalated while he attempted to order Gomez out of her vehicle, leading him to believe he was in imminent danger. The courtroom hears his admission that he fired three shots when the car backed up with him pinned against it, a moment captured in body camera footage where he can be seen pleading for Gomez to “stay with me.” His testimony sets the stage for jurors to weigh the complexities of police use-of-force as prosecutors prepare to rest their case against him.
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