Hundreds Attend El Paso Officer's Funeral

An El Paso police officer who died following a beating while he was off-duty has been laid to rest.

Officer Jonathan Molina was buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery after a memorial service Friday.

Law enforcement officers from Texas and New Mexico were among hundreds who attended.

He died Oct. 5, 10 days after he was attacked when he approached some men about keying his car. Authorities say one man punched him and grabbed his legs, causing his head to hit the concrete. The man kept punching the officer until a witness came to his aid.

Molina was taken to a hospital after the Sept. 25 attack, where he remained in critical condition until his death.

Juan Antonio Gonzalez, 17, has been charged with capital murder in Molina's death.

___

Information from: El Paso Times, http://www.elpasotimes.com

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.