Prosecutor in manslaughter trial of EPPD officer collapses; jury cleared from courtroom

The jury in the trial of an El Paso Police officer charged with manslaughter was excused from the courtroom after one of the prosecutors collapsed.

Defense Attorney Jeep Darnell was in the middle of cross examination when people in the courtroom became distracted.

At that point, everyone in the room realized the head of the prosecutor bobbing. The prosecutor, who ABC-7 is trying to identify, was sittting in his chair when he collapsed. Paremedic rushed the prosecutor to a nearby hospital.

Mando Kenneth Gomez was a 10-year veteran with EPPD when he allegedly shot and killed Erik Emmanuel Salas Sanchez in April 2015. A grand jury indicted Gomez on a manslaughter charge two years later.

ABC-7 obtained court documents stating Gomez recklessly caused the death Salas Sanchez by shooting him in the back with a firearm.

Police were called to a home in the 300 block of Jesuit in the Lower Valley to investigate a burglary. Officers said they believed Salas Sanchez was the suspect of the burglary, and attempted to talk to him.

Sanchez then allegedly armed himself with a metal object and threatened to kill the officers, according to police. An officer fired a taser at Salas Sanchez in an attempt to restrain him. Salas Sanchez, still armed, then allegedly charged at the officers. At that point, Officer Gomez fired his weapon at Salas Sanchez, police said. The man was transported to Del Sol Medical Center where he died from the gunshot wound.

El Paso Police have confirmed Gomez is still employed and has been on administrative duty ever since the 2015 shooting.

Gomez’s trial will resume Monday, ABC-7 has learned.