A Mesilla deputy marshal who shot at a 21-year-old man earlier this month has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office recently completed its investigation of the Sept. 1 shooting. The office recommended that no charges be filed against Deputy Marshal Manuel Cortez.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Kelly Jameson said Tuesday that the case has been turned over to Mesilla for any internal investigation.
Cortez had responded to a domestic disturbance between Jacob Martinez and his mother.
According to police reports, Cortez believed that Martinez had a firearm when Martinez placed his arm behind his back. Cortez fired one shot, which missed Martinez and hit a building.
The reports suggest that Martinez tried to coax Cortez into shooting him.
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Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com
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