Hundreds bid farewell to sheriff’s deputy killed in the line of duty

Hundreds of friends, relatives and law enforcement officers bid a final farewell to slain El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Peter J. Herrera.

Deputy Herrera was laid to rest Friday afternoon at Evergreen Cemetery in East El Paso following a funeral mass officiated by Bishop Mark Seitz at Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church.

WATCH A REPLAY OF THE FUNERAL PROCESSION BELOW:

After the mass, Herrera’s body was escorted by dozens of law enforcement officers to Del Valle High School, his alma mater. Hundreds of students, staff and faculty lined the street outside the Lower Valley school with signs of support for the deputy’s family.

” El Paso is such a loving and giving community. It’s such an unfortunate event that something like this has happened in our area, ” said Del Valle Student Eddie Garcia, ” It’s such a sad thing. I’m just here to honor him. ”

” We want to recognize his service and just pay our respects to his family, friends and loved ones, ” said Del Valle teacher Barbara Garcia Vasquez, ” We’re all here for them as a community. ”

The deputy’s body was then escorted to the cemetery in East El Paso, where hundreds more were waiting to bid him farewell. A woman from San Elizario told ABC-7 Deputy Herrera frequently patrolled her community.

” I am here to represent my community, I am from San Elizario . I heard he did so many good things for our people out there, I just wanted to show my support. We have family and friends in law enforcement. We just wanted to show our respect, ” said San Elizario resident Isla Reyes.

Herrera was shot multiple times during a traffic stop in San Elizario on March 22, 2019. The alleged gunman, Facundo Chavez, is facing two counts of Capital Murder.