Executive Summary
- Former LCPD officer Felipe Hernandez is set for sentencing on Jan. 28, 2026.
- A jury convicted Hernandez of voluntary manslaughter with a firearm enhancement in October 2025.
- The case involves the Oct. 3, 2023, shooting death of Teresa Gomez.
- Third Judicial District Court Judge Richard Jacquez will preside over the hearing.
Former Las Cruces Police Department officer Felipe Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 28, 2026, before Third Judicial District Court Judge Richard Jacquez. The sentencing hearing follows Hernandez’s conviction in the 2023 shooting death of Teresa Gomez, according to court documents filed in Las Cruces.
A jury found Hernandez guilty of voluntary manslaughter with a firearm enhancement in October 2025, concluding a four-day trial. The verdict stems from an on-duty incident that occurred on Oct. 3, 2023, which resulted in the fatality of Gomez.
Legal Procedural Outlook
The upcoming sentencing hearing represents the final phase of the trial court proceedings in this high-profile officer-involved shooting case. Under judicial guidelines, the firearm enhancement attached to the voluntary manslaughter conviction typically mandates additional statutory penalties, which Judge Jacquez will assess during the January hearing. While the jury has delivered a guilty verdict, it is important to note that defendants in the U.S. judicial system generally retain the right to appeal convictions and sentencing outcomes.
