After an hour and a half of deliberation, a jury on Monday acquitted all three law enforcement officials charged in reference to the capturing loss of life of Melissa Perez, studies KSAT.
The weeks-long trial marked the primary time {that a} San Antonio police officer had been tried with homicide stemming from an on-duty capturing, in keeping with the Categorical-Information.
Former Sgt. Alfred Flores and former officer Eleazar Alejandro have been charged and acquitted on fees of homicide, aggravated assault, and lethal conduct. In the meantime, former officer Nathaniel Villalobos was discovered not responsible of 1 rely of aggravated assault and lethal conduct.
All three have been there when Perez, who was unarmed and struggling a psychological well being disaster at her Southwest Facet residence on June 25, 2023, was shot and killed by responding law enforcement officials. Prosecutors stated 16 pictures have been fired in complete, with two placing 43-year-old Perez, in keeping with KSAT.
The officers opened fireplace after Perez threw a candle on the officers from behind a sliding glass door at her residence and rushed the officers with a hammer, as seen in physique cam footage.
Not one of the three officers are nonetheless employed with SAPD, and police chief Invoice McManus himself had beforehand stated they violated division coverage by capturing at Perez with out ample trigger.
Even so, the jury clearly disagreed.
“I believe the case and proof spoke for themselves,” protection lawyer Nico LaHood, who represented Villalobos within the trial, advised the Categorical-Information. “The state had no skilled witnesses, and their principle stored shifting all through the trial. We’re simply grateful that the jury noticed it.”
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