LAS CRUCES ― The body of slain Las Cruces Police Department officer Jonah Hernandez traveled from the New Mexico Medical Investigator’s Office in Albuquerque to his hometown of El Paso on Monday night.
On Tuesday, Feb. 13 LCPD Chief Jeremy Story provided additional details into the incident that took the life of Hernandez, 35, on Sunday while he responded to a local business reporting a trespasser.
Story identified Hernandez's killer as 29-year-old Armando Silva, who was homeless at the time of the incident and had a history of mental illness and criminal convictions. The person described by police as a "witness" who subsequently shot and killed Silva during the incident, was not identified.
Story said Hernandez was responding to a trespassing call from the owner of the business in the 300 block of South Valley Drive.
"When he arrived, Armando Silva immediately attacked him with a large kitchen knife," Story said. "For no reason whatsoever, Silva killed Officer Hernandez.
"A witness saw the unprovoked attack, retrieved a firearm from their vehicle and confronted the murderer. Silva tried to attack the witness and was shot at least once. Silva later died from his injuries."
Hernandez was taken to Mountain View Regional Medical Center where he died from his injuries.
Story said that the LCPD would recommend no charges against the man who saw the attack on Hernandez and responded by killing Silva and then calling for help with Hernandez's radio. But the decision to prosecute will ultimately rest with the district attorney, Story said.
More:Latest update on Las Cruces Police Officer Jonah Hernandez stabbing death on duty
Story said it is common for officers to respond to trespassing calls alone, just as Hernandez did around 5 p.m. on Sunday.
"Unfortunately officers respond to trespassing calls at a level and frequency that I think would shock most people," Story said. "In an average day, officers respond to approximately 500 calls every single day. I wish I could have two officers at every single call. It's something right now we encourage officers do for a number of reasons."
Story said Hernandez is the first LCPD officer to be killed in the line of duty. The LCPD was established as a police department in 1928.
Hernandez graduated from the largest class in the history of the police academy in 2022 while Story was the director of the academy. He was assigned to patrol as a young officer, Story said.
"There is evil in our beautiful city and as officers, we see it every day but it takes selfless men and women to stand against that evil," Story said. "Those men and women patrol our streets and respond to cries for help. We are very blessed to have amazing police officers who guard this city.
"There is a cost to having peace, order and justice in Las Cruces. Officer Hernandez's family will eternally pay that price."
Hernandez was a husband and father to two young sons.
Armando Silva had a history of violent crime
Silva had a criminal history that involved battery and aggravated battery on a household member, and a first-degree kidnapping in 2015.
Silva pleaded guilty in 2016 to aggravated battery against a household member (great bodily harm) and battery against a household member for which he was sentenced to three years incarceration followed by two years of parole, according to court documents. It was recommended Silva complete a drug abuse program while incarcerated. A charge of first-degree kidnapping was dismissed as part of Silva's plea agreement. It was alleged in 2019 he violated parole, but that incident was not prosecuted, according to court documents.
"He was convicted of serious violent crimes and spent some time in prison," Story said. "He violated his probation and parole multiple times and was sent back and completed that sentence."
Story said that the murder of Hernandez was an agonizing reminder of what he called a broken criminal justice system in New Mexico.
"A system that should have protected our community from Silva, but instead allowed him to endanger us all," Story said.
When asked to expand on his comments during Tuesday's news conference, Story deferred to a future conversation and instead preferred to keep the focus on the city grieving for the officer.
At a recent town hall, hosted by the police department, with the topic of homelessness in Las Cruces, Story said 102 people in the past two years had been arrested or criminally charged at least 10 times, including one individual who had 77 citations over the past two years.
Story cited three ongoing court system initiatives throughout New Mexico that could potentially alleviate the revolving door.
"There will be a time where I will address those issues," Story said Tuesday. "I can make a promise that I will not let his (Hernandez's) death be in vain. Now is a time to honor Officer Hernandez and support his family."
Funeral arrangements for Hernandez not yet determined
On Tuesday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered that all flags across the state be flown at half mast to honor Hernandez from Wednesday, Feb. 14 through sundown on Feb. 19.
Story said the funeral arrangements were still being made for Hernandez, but it would take place in El Paso.
Multiple law enforcement agencies took part in a police escort for Hernandez's body on Monday.
"It was incredibly heartwarming to see the outpouring of support and love from the community and fellow law enforcement agencies across the entire state," Story said.
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Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.
