A Former LaSalle Police Officer Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Fatal Shooting
A former LaSalle police officer, Erik Gustavo Hernandez, 36, has been sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in January. This comes after a Weld County jury was unable to reach a verdict on a second-degree murder charge following Hernandez’s trial in November.
The incident occurred on May 3, 2023, outside a Family Dollar store in LaSalle. Hernandez and another officer were investigating a suspicious vehicle when the vehicle’s owner, Juston Reffel, attempted to drive away. Hernandez fired four shots at Reffel, striking him in the torso. Tragically, Reffel, 38, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Deputy District Attorney Lacy Wells expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “There’s nothing more serious than the loss of human life. Juston deserved better, and so did the citizens of Weld County. The silver lining is that Hernandez will never serve as a police officer again.”
Hernandez’s attorney has not issued a statement at this time.
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