Two Dead in Tragic Shooting Involving Police Officer's Son

Brad Lunsford, a former police officer, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter on Wednesday for the fatal shooting of Presley Eze at a gas station in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 2022. According to prosecutors, Lunsford, who is white, shot Eze, a Black man, at point-blank range during a struggle. This incident occurred after police were called in response to a report of Eze allegedly stealing beer. Lunsford's attorney, Jose Coronado, stated he would seek a review of the verdict, expressing disappointment and contesting the sufficiency of the prosecution's case.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez emphasized that Lunsford's use of deadly force was unjustifiable, asserting that Eze was shot in the back of the head after allegedly attempting to reach for an officer's stun gun. Torrez remarked, “Today’s verdict reaffirms a fundamental principle: no one is above the law.” The voluntary manslaughter charge, which includes a firearms enhancement, can lead to a maximum sentence of nine years. This case is part of a broader conversation about police conduct and systemic issues regarding the treatment of Black individuals in the U.S.