Felipe Hernandez was convicted in the killing of Teresa “Terry” Leyva Gomez after jurors reviewed body-camera footage that prosecutors said contradicted his account of danger.

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - A Doña Ana County jury on Oct. 30 found former Las Cruces police officer Felipe Hernandez guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the 2023 shooting death of 45-year-old Teresa “Terry” Leyva Gomez. Hernandez, who was acquitted of the greater charge of second-degree murder, was taken into custody immediately after the verdict and will remain jailed until sentencing.

District Attorney Fernando Macias said the outcome demonstrates that law enforcement officers are held to the same legal standards as everyone else.

“It is very positive that the jury held Felipe Hernandez responsible for the death of Terry Leyva Gomez,” Macias said. “We will be asking for a lengthy sentence, as permitted under the law. While it is difficult to determine why the jury did not go forward with the second-degree murder charge, we firmly believe the evidence presented at trial supported that charge. Nevertheless, we are respectful of the jury’s deliberation process and the results.”

Deputy District Attorney Tomas Medina said the case carried deep weight for both the victim’s family and the community.

“The loss of Ms. Gomez’s life is a tragedy that has deeply affected her family, our community and the integrity of public trust,” Medina said. “Our office extends its gratitude to the jurors who gave their time and attention to this case, and to Ms. Gomez’s family for their courage throughout this process.”

What investigators said happened

A criminal complaint filed by Las Cruces Police Lt. Peter Bradley and sworn before Deputy District Attorney Charles “Chip” Chavez described the events of Oct. 3, 2023.

According to that affidavit, Hernandez was responding to a disturbance call on Campo Street involving Gomez, who sat inside her vehicle with the engine running. Body-camera footage showed Hernandez approaching the driver’s side and ordering her to exit. When she moved the vehicle forward, he fired multiple rounds through the window, striking her.

Investigators wrote that the car had not hit Hernandez when he opened fire and that the footage and physical evidence were inconsistent with his later claim that he feared being run over. Gomez died at a local hospital soon after the shooting.

The affidavit concluded there was probable cause to charge Hernandez with second-degree murder, alleging he acted with knowledge that his conduct created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm.

The courtroom fight

Defense attorney Jeff Lahann argued during pretrial hearings that the body-camera footage was “graphic and distressing” beyond its evidentiary value and sought to limit what jurors would see. Prosecutors maintained that the entire recording was necessary to evaluate whether Hernandez’s response was reasonable.

Witness lists show jurors heard from forensic pathologist Dr. Lauren Dvorscak, LCPD training officers and crime-scene experts who reconstructed the shooting. The testimony centered on split-second decision-making, officer-safety protocols and whether the car’s movement justified deadly force.

The verdict and what comes next

After a week of testimony, jurors rejected the state’s argument for second-degree murder but found Hernandez guilty of voluntary manslaughter — a lesser charge that still carries the possibility of several years in prison.

Macias said the verdict affirms that “no badge and no title place anyone above the law.” Sentencing will be set in district court in coming weeks.

Case timeline

• Oct. 3, 2023 – Teresa Leyva Gomez is shot by Officer Felipe Hernandez during a disturbance call on Campo Street.
• Oct. 5, 2023 – Hernandez placed on administrative leave pending investigation.
• Jan. 2024 – LCPD completes internal report; case referred to the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
• Jan. 22, 2024 – State files criminal complaint and affidavit of probable cause charging second-degree murder.
• April–Sept. 2025 – Pretrial motions include requests to redact lapel-cam footage and permit travel while on release.
• Oct. 21, 2025 – State files amended witness list naming forensic and use-of-force experts.
• Oct. 30, 2025 – Jury convicts Hernandez of voluntary manslaughter; he is remanded to custody.
• Pending – Sentencing and possible appeal.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.