The man suspected in Friday’s robbery at a Picacho Avenue convenience store, who later wielded a knife to threaten a Las Cruces Police officer before being shot, remains hospitalized in El Paso.
Erik Daniel Hernandez, 19, is in critical condition at University Medical Center of El Paso.
Shortly before 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, Las Cruces Police were dispatched to the report of a robbery at the Valero Corner Store at 2695 W. Picacho Ave. A store employee described the suspect, and what he was wearing and carrying.
Investigators learned that a Las Cruces Police officer located a man matching the description south of the Valero store on Motel Boulevard. The officer made contact with the suspect, later identified as Hernandez, who was armed with a knife. The officer gave several commands for Hernandez to drop the knife but the suspect is believed to have closed distance as he raised the knife. The officer fired more than one round, striking Hernandez.
Hernandez fell to the ground but maintained possession of the knife. A Las Cruces Police K-9 was deployed to disarm Hernandez, who was subsequently transported to the hospital.
The LCPD officer was not injured and remains on standard administrative leave.
The Officer-involved Incident Task Force is investigating the shooting. The task force includes investigators from New Mexico State Police, New Mexico State University Police, the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office and the Las Cruces Police Department.
Information from Las Cruces