WATCH: Family of woman killed in police shooting ask DA to charge officer with murder
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- The attorney representing the family of a 75-year-old woman shot and killed by a Las Cruces Police Officer while holding a knife in each hand said the family had suffered a "terrible and tragic horrific loss."
"Let me be blunt. Amelia Baca was executed by the Las Cruces Police Department on April 16 of this year. This should never have happened. It did not need to happen, " said Sam Bregman.
Bregman said he knew the name of the officer who shot but would not disclose it or confirm it at this time.
Video showing body cam footage of the moment of the shooting was released by Las Cruce police on Tuesday. The video was also shown at the news conference.
"Police officers are supposed to deescalate situations. Especially with individuals who are having a mental health crisis. Instead of deescalating Ms. Baca., Instead of de-escalating her, instead of bringing everything down, this officer immediately began yelling at the top of his lungs, using foul language. while pointing his firearm at point-blank range at her," said Bregman.
One of Amelia's daughters spoke in Spanish. "We want justice for my mother. Nothing will bring her back; she is gone now. But we want justice for her. It is hard for us to know she is not with us anymore; we want her to be here. It is very difficult."
Las Cruces Policy Assisting the Mentally Ill by David Gonzalez on Scribd