Learning from these incidents are critical to help educate how to prevent and how to be safer when dealing with cops or critical incidents.
The incident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 11, 2024. when Las Cruses Police Officer Jon…
Learning from these incidents are critical to help educate how to prevent and how to be safer when dealing with cops or critical incidents.
The incident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 11, 2024. when Las Cruses Police Officer Jonah Hernandez, was responding to a trespassing call by the owner of the property on the 300 block of south Valley Drive.
There has been a history of trespassing, vandalism, starting fires, erratic behavior and people leaving needles on that property. The suspect was confronted by the property owner the day before and asked or told to leave.
The investigation has revealed that, when officer Hernandez arrived at the scene, the suspect, Armando Silva, 29, immediately attacked him with a large kitchen knife. After stabbing officer Hernandez, Silva, a man with a history of crimes and mental illness, tried attacking a bystander who witnessed the unprovoked attack on Hernandez. That witness retrieved his own firearm, shot and killed Silva.
Another witness then utilized Hernandez’s radio to call for help.
Officer Hernandez was transported to Mountain View Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.
Hernandez served as a Las Cruces Police Department officer since June 2022.
Officer Jonah Hernandez is survived by his wife, Yesenia Lopez, and two sons: Sebastian Jonah, 10, and 2-year-old Joaquin Leonel. Hernandez was from El Monte, California., and grew up in El Paso, Texas. He was a 2006 graduate of Americas High School.
The mother of Armando Silva, Xochitl Hernandez also made a statement.
As a mother and a citizen of the Las Cruces Community, I am very torn and troubled over the recent tragic events that lead to the loss of two beautiful human lives. I would like to clarify that my son was not a “homeless vagrant” as he is being portrayed. He was a young man, that has suffered from severe mental illness for many years now. For those of us who knew him, this very tragic event, was out of character for him. I..
