Family of Las Cruces man shot by police files suit

The family of a Las Cruces man shot and killed by police last summer has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports the family of 37-year-old Jose Estrada alleges in the suit, which was filed in late January, that police officers involved knew he was unarmed.

The suit names the three officers, the police department and the city of Las Cruces.

Authorities say Estrada was fatally shot after officers responded to a call about a man threatening people at a Las Cruces home.

The Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office cleared the officers in an investigation in October.

Investigators say Estrada disobeyed multiple commands and pointed what appeared to be an assault-style rifle at police before being shot.

The weapon Estrada had turned out to be a pellet rifle that strongly resembles an AR-15.
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Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News