Mistrial declared in case of EPPD officer on trial for manslaughter

A mistrial has been declared in the manslaughter trial of an El Paso Police officer accused of shooting and killing a man during a robbery investigation.

A court administrator could not confirm why the mistrial was declared, but did tell ABC-7 the court date would be reset at a later date.

On Friday, the judge in the trial of officer Mando Kenneth Gomez excused the jury when one of 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.

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.