LAS CRUCES, NM – A police officer from New Mexico was fatally stabbed while on duty earlier this week, according to authorities. Las Cruces Patrol Officer Jonah Hernandez succumbed to at least one stab wound inflicted by a reported trespasser. Following the gruesome incident, supplemental details indicate the suspect himself was shot dead by a witness present during the attack.
Officer Hernandez responded to a call indicating a trespasser around 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tragically, the officer was stabbed during the confrontation, as per the statement issued by the Las Cruces Police Department.
In the aftermath of the stabbing, the attack witness managed to call for assistance using the officer’s radio. Unfortunately, Officer Hernandez could not be saved and was declared deceased after being rushed to MountainView Regional Medical Center.
While authorities are notifying the suspect’s next of kin, the identity of the 29-year-old suspect has not been publically released. It is, however, believed that the suspect was again shot by the witness who reported the incident.
Officer Hernandez, originally from El Paso, Texas, had been a part of the Las Cruces Police for two years. Grieving the loss are his wife and two young children.
Statistics provided by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund indicate a decrease in the number of on-duty police officer fatalities in 2023, down by 39% from the previous year. Out of 136 officers who lost their lives while on duty, only one case involved a fatal stabbing.