Jose Ramone Estrada, 37

Las Cruces, New Mexico
July 02, 2013

Agencies: 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office New Mexico | Las Cruces Police Department New Mexico

Cause of death: Shooting


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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

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

The 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office cleared the officers in an investigation in October.

Investigators said 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 greatly resembles an AR-15.

Legal Action

July 2013 officers cleared

February 2014 Lawsuit filed