Las Cruces Police Department Chief Jeremy Story delivered an update during a news conference yesterday, detailing the events surrounding the officer-involved shooting that occurred on March 13 on the 800 block of South Main Street, according to the City of Las Cruces. The shooting resulted in injuries to 19-year-old Gabriel Padilla, who was suspected of aggravated assault on a peace officer, negligent use of a deadly weapon, and resisting arrest.
It was shortly before 7 p.m. when officers responded to the scene where Padilla, now hospitalized in serious but stable condition, was involved in the confrontation that ended with at least one bullet striking him, after the shooting Padilla will face formal charges upon his release from the hospital and is expected to be booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center. The officer, a veteran with seven years on the job and a tenure at LCPD starting in August 2021, followed the department's standard procedure by being placed on administrative leave following the incident.
Chief Story's brief at the news conference illuminated the sequence leading up to the shooting, detailing the officer's actions and the impending charges against Padilla, yet the complexities of such confrontations are rarely resolved in public statements alone, they unwind within the justice system, demanding patience and due process. The LCPD has provided access to the conference video for the public via links on the City’s YouTube channel and on the Las Cruces Police Department’s Facebook page.
