New Mexico officer stabbed to death before witness shoots suspect, police say

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) – A new Mexico A police officer who died after being stabbed by a suspect was shot dead by a witness to the attack on Sunday evening, police said.

The Las Cruces Police Department said in a statement posted on social media that Las Cruces Patrol Officer Jonah Hernandez was stabbed at least once after responding to a report of a trespasser on South Valley Drive shortly before 5 p.m. I went.

Police said a witness to the attack used the officer’s police radio to call for help after he was stabbed, but Hernandez died after being taken to Mountainview Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces.

The suspect, a 29-year-old man, is believed to have been shot to death by the same witness, according to police, who did not release the suspect’s identity until next of kin were notified.

Hernandez was a former resident of El Paso, texaswho had worked with Las Cruces police for two years, the statement said.

Las Cruces police said additional information will be shared later in the week.

Las Cruces is located approximately 223 miles (359 kilometers) south of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and 46 miles (74 kilometers) northwest of El Paso, Texas.

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