Former police officer Brad Lunsford was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Black man Presley Eze during a confrontation at a New Mexico gas station. The incident occurred in 2022 and was connected to a pattern of brutality against Black people by law enforcement, following the killing of George Floyd in 2020. Lunsford, who is white, had pleaded not guilty and his attorney plans to challenge the verdict on legal grounds. Prosecutors argued that Lunsford used unreasonable force when he shot Eze at point-blank range during a scuffle after responding to a call about a stolen beer. Attorney General Raúl Torrez stated that Lunsford’s actions were an abuse of power that cost Eze his life.
The conviction carries a possible sentence of up to nine years in prison, and evidence presented at trial included body camera video of the confrontation. Despite the conviction, it is rare for on-duty officers to be convicted in fatal shooting cases due to legal precedents and the split-second nature of such encounters. Data shows that most officers charged with homicide or manslaughter are not convicted, and if they are, it is often for lesser offenses.
Torrez characterized the killing of Eze as a result of poor police tactics and an unjustifiable use of force for a minor offense. The verdict highlights the importance of accountability and upholding the law, even for those in law enforcement.
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