El Paso County Sheriff’s Office confirms wounded deputy has died

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that Sheriff Deputy Peter Herrera has died.

The sheriff’s office said Herrera died at 5:35 p.m. Sunday evening. They were not able to confirm a cause of death.

Herrera was shot Friday morning short before 2 a.m. after conducting a traffic stop in San Elizario at the intersection of Chicken Ranch Road and Socorro Road.

” This is a shock to us, ” said El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles. After going through multiple surgeries, Wiles said Herrera ” was very alert.

We were very optimistic, ” he said.

The sheriff’s office arrested 27-year-old Facundo Chavez on Friday.

According to the sheriff’s office, Chavez was in the vehicle pulled over by Herrera. He then allegedly exited the car and shot the deputy, the sheriff’s office said.

Herrera was unable to return fire and the suspects, Chavez and another woman, fled on foot.

It is unclear if Chavez was driving the vehicle pulled over by the deputy. Chavez faces numerous charges including capital murder. Chavez was jailed on a $1.5 million bond. Sheriff Richard Wiles told ABC-7 the sheriff’s office will be seeking the death penalty.

Backup arrived immediately after Deputy Herrera was shot and found Chavez and the woman hiding in a nearby shed. They were arrested and taken into custody without incident.

The woman was later released.

Sheriff Richard Wiles said the bullet did not penetrate the deputy’s brain.

Although Herrera was in critical conidition , Wiles said on Friday Herrera was expected to survive.

On Friday, March 22, El Paso Country Sheriff’s Office spokesman Robert Flores told ABC-7 body armor saved Herrera’s life.

” Thankfully he was wearing a vest, ” Flores said. ” The rounds that actually struck some of the more vital areas of his upper body were stopped by the vest. ”

Sheriff Wiles said the Herrera had been with the sheriff’s office for 11 years.

” I think Deputy Herera would want us to come out of this with the thought that we’re not going to give in, we’re not going to give in to evil, we’re not going to stop what we’re doing, ” Wiles said.

” I just want the public to know we’re still here for them as they’ve been here for us. ”

A GoFund page has been setup to help his family.

The investigation is still ongoing.