Jonathan Strickland v. City of Las Cruces, et al. CIV-23-00116 KG/KRS

This case arose from claims brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the New Mexico Tort Claims Act following a March 2021 officer-involved shooting involving officers with the Las Cruces Police Department. The lawsuit alleged excessive force and battery after officers attempted to detain Jonathan Strickland following reports that he had threatened his wife and infant child with a firearm, fled from law enforcement in his vehicle, and appeared to raise a gun toward officers after a pursuit ended. Although Strickland was later determined to be unarmed, he alleged that the officers’ use of force violated his constitutional rights and sought substantial compensatory and punitive damages.

Throughout the litigation, Defendants successfully narrowed the issues through dispositive motion practice before proceeding to trial on the remaining claims. The case involved complex factual disputes, extensive witness testimony, and significant evidentiary issues.

Following a seven-day jury trial before Chief United States District Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales, an eight-person federal jury returned a unanimous defense verdict on February 25, 2026. The jury found that the defendant officers did not use excessive force and did not commit a battery, returning a complete verdict in favor of all defendants.

The unanimous defense verdict concluded a highly contested federal civil rights action and represents another successful defense of law enforcement officers in complex constitutional litigation.