New Mexico County to Pay $1.75M to Settle Suits over Deadly 2017 Shooting

February 6, 2019

New Mexico’s Bernalillo County will pay almost $2 million to settle a series of lawsuits stemming from a deputy’s 2017 fatal shooting of two unarmed suspects.

KRQE-TV reports the county will make a $1.75 million payout to resolve litigation in the shooting that resulted in the deaths of driver Isaac Padilla and passenger Martin Jim.

Authorities say Deputy Joshua Mora, the undersheriff’s son, pursued a stolen vehicle in November 2017.

The chase ended with Mora fatally shooting the two men.

Mora had said he feared for the safety colleagues when Padilla revved the engine after being cornered.

He declined to comment when reached by the news station.

The incident sparked calls for body cameras, which Sheriff Manuel Gonzales has refused to use.

His department has faced lawsuits in other deadly force cases.

Topics Lawsuits Mexico New Mexico

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