LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - A district attorney has cleared a Las Cruces police officer of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man who reportedly suffered from schizophrenia and was bipolar.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports Third Judicial District Attorney Mark D’Antonio announced in a letter last week that Officer Jason Hayes would not face charges in the shooting death of James Bishop.
Authorities say officers were called to a home in August after Bishop’s father reported him threatening his mother with a baseball bat.
Police say Bishop attacked an officer with the bat and wouldn’t stop despite being hit with a stun gun.
Officials say Hayes then fired multiple rounds that struck Bishop, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bishop was the son of Betty Bishop, chairwoman of the Dona Ana Republican Party.
___
Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.