Las Cruces, NM: LCPD names officers in fatal shooting

Sun-News report
Posted: 01/23/2010 12:00:00 AM MST

Click photo to enlarge

Antonio Medrano Jr. (Courtesy photo)
LAS CRUCES -- Two officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man who reportedly rushed them with a knife and a bat have been identified by Las Cruces Police Department.
Isaiah Baker, 24, an officer since September 2007, and Manuel Frias, 28, an officer since June 2008, shot 25-year-old Antonio Medrano Jr. at least once in the chest after officers said he armed himself and rushed them, despite orders to drop his weapons.
Medrano's 27-year-old girlfriend had called police just before 4 p.m. on Jan. 17 to report Medrano had beaten her and left her home with their children.
About 15 minutes later, Medrano confronted police at his home in the 3000 block of Petunia Lane with a butcher knife with an 8-inch blade and an aluminum baseball bat, authorities said.
Baker and Frias ordered Medrano repeatedly to drop his weapons. Medrano refused to comply with the commands and rushed the officers instead, police said.
Medrano pleaded guilty in 2008 to resisting an officer, in 2005 to felony drug possession and tampering with evidence, and in 2004 to drunken driving, according to court records.
The incident remains under investigation by LCPD and the Joint Shooting Task Force, which includes investigators from LCPD, New Mexico State Police, the Do-a Ana Sheriff's Department and New Mexico State University Police. Upon completion of the investigation, the findings are forwarded to the 3rd Judicial District Attorney's Office for review.
Police say when they are
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confronted by a suspect with a deadly weapon they are trained to use deadly force and not to try to shoot the weapons out of the suspect's hands.
Baker and Frias remain on paid administrative leave until the investigation is complete, as is standard practice, and have been offered grief counseling.