ALBUQUERQUE – The family of a New Mexico woman fatally shot more than 20 times by sheriff’s deputies is suing.
KOB-TV reports the family of Elisha Lucero has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in state district court against the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the lawsuit, the family called authorities in July as the 28-year-old Lucero was suffering a mental health crisis. But court documents say deputies escalated a tense situation when they showed up.
The lawsuit alleges that deputies never called for a crisis intervention specialist despite at least one deputy knowing Lucero had mental health issues.
The department led by Sheriff Manny Gonzales has come under fire for its high number of deputies shooting and because Gonzales is refusing to require deputies to wear lapel cameras.
A Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office spokesman declined to comment.
