DA: Actions of officer who killed knife-wielding man justified

The Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office says the actions of a Las Cruces Police officer who shot and killed a knife-wielding man at the Solano Square shopping center were justified.

The January 24, 2017 shooting resulted in the death of 29-year-old Jeremy Lopez-Robledo, armed with a folding knife.

Robledo was wanted by the U.S. Marshal’s Office for violating terms of his probation, police said.

He was located by a U.S. Marshals task force, which included LCPD officers, shortly after 11 a.m. Jan. 24 near the shopping center.

As officers tried to contact Robledo, the suspect ran away and led officers on a brief foot pursuit toward the entrance of the Lowe’s grocery store at 1410 Missouri Ave. Officers caught up to Robledo as he approached the store’s entrance and the automatic doors failed to open.

One of the officers deployed a Taser, which had no effect on Robledo, police said. LCPD officer Manuel Frias tried restraining Robledo, who allegedly resisted and fought with the officers.

The officers took Robledo to the ground as the suspect continued to physically resist.

Officers then realized Robledo was armed with a folding knife and was swinging it toward the officers in an aggressive manner. The officers created distance, and Frias drew and fired his sidearm striking Robledo four times.

Robledo was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The investigation revealed, through video and independent eye witnesses, that Robledo had the knife in his hand in “an aggressive and threatening manner from the onset of contact with the officers.” It wasn’t until after the shooting that Frias learned that he had been cut by Robledo’s knife.

Police said an investigation by the Officer-involved Incident Task Force revealed Robledo had a history of aggression toward police and was known to carry a deadly weapon.

The morning of his death, Robledo’s mother visited LCPD and indicated to an officer that her son was not taking his medication and was not armed. His mother was also referred to the U.S. Marshal’s Office. The claim that he was not armed was later determined to be false.

Shortly after the incident, Frias was placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol. He has since returned to regular duty.

The shooting was investigated by the Officer-involved Incident Task Force which includes detectives from New Mexico State Police, LCPD, the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State University Police.