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Lunsford sentencing date set for April

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Brad Lunsford, a former Las Cruces police officer convicted of voluntary manslaughter, will be sentenced on April 4, according to court records. 

A jury convicted Lunsford on Feb. 13 of voluntary manslaughter. A jury found that Lunsford while responding to a shoplifting call at the former Chevron gas station on Valley Drive, wrongfully shot and killed Presley Eze. After eight days of videos of the killing, witness recollections, and expert testimony, a jury convicted Lunsford after about 3 hours of deliberation. 

Lunsford could face up to nine years in prison – six for the voluntary manslaughter charge and three for firearm enhancement.  After the conviction, Lunsford was taken to jail.

On Feb. 21, Lunsford lawyers filed a motion requesting he be released from jail until sentencing. The motion argued that he had strong ties to the community and that he would not flee or obstruct the judicial process if released.

A hearing or response to the motion had not been filed by the time of this article’s publication.

Police union raises funds for Lunsford

On the day Lunsford was convicted of manslaughter, the Las Cruces Police Officers Association set up a GoFundMe for Lunsford’s family. 

“Brad was the sole financial provider, while Lacy raises their boys. Being a police officer, means that you have been taken in by an entirely new family, brothers and sisters in blue. We get to know one another and we build connections with each other’s families, and they too, become family. We learn to lean on each other in good times and bad,” a post set up by LCPD Ofc. Veronica De La O states. 

The post continues, “Whether you agree or disagree, they deserve to be taken care of so that Lacy doesn’t have to worry about how to provide for her family as they navigate life moving forward. Thank you for your support.”

As of this article’s publication, the GoFundMe has raised $31,505 with 201 donations. LCPD Chief Jeremy Story is the top donor, sending $1,100 to the Lunsford family. 

Eze family statement

In a statement shared by their family attorney, he said the family continues to mourn his loss.

“They are grateful to the New Mexico Department of Justice and the jury for recognizing the injustice of Presley’s death and fighting for the fundamental principal of human dignity. Presley’s family implores the City of Las Cruces to redouble efforts to make sure no other family suffers the tragedy of losing a loved one to abusive police conduct. Even today, Presley’s widow can’t help but look at their four-year-old son and long for her loving husband to be back with them now and for the future. Presley’s family takes solace in the guilty verdict as a beacon of justice to light the way toward less violence, Presley did not die in vain.”

Brad Lunsford, sentencing

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