UPDATE: Police Release Names Of Off-Duty Officers Involved In Shooting
El Paso Police have released the names of two off-duty officers involved in a a shooting in East El Paso Thursday afternoon.
At 3:41 p.m. Thursday, two off-duty police officers traveling in a personal vehicle on Gateway East near Yarbrough were involved in a minor traffic accident when a yellow Pontiac struck them from behind.
The two officers, Jorge Gonzalez and Michelle Gonzalez, exited the vehicle to talk to the driver, Andres Elias Cortez of the 900 block of Geronne. Cortez backed up and tried to flee and in the process hit and ran over Michelle Gonzalez, according to police officials.
Jorge Gonzalez identified himself as an officer and gave the driver verbal commands to stop. Jorge Gonzalez believed Cortez would hit Michelle Gonzalez again, at which point he shot Cortez one time in the back of the neck. The subject is in critical condition at University Medical Center.
Jorge Gonzalez, a five-year veteran assigned to Central Regional Command Center, will remain on administrative duty pending the conclusion of the internal administrative investigation.
Michelle Gonzalez, a seven-year veteran assigned to the Pebble Hilles Regional Command Center, will return to full duty upon receiving a medical clearance. These are both standard practices when officers are involved in these types of critical incidents. This investigation continues.
