El Paso, TX — A newly released body camera video from the El Paso Police Department (EPPD) captures a disturbing struggle that escalated, ultimately resulting in the death of Xavier Guadalupe Hernandez, 30, on July 13, 2025.
Hernandez Found Threatening to Jump from Overpass
According to the video footage and police reports, Hernandez was on the edge of the Yarbrough Drive overpass above the I-10 freeway, seemingly threatening to jump. EPPD officers responded at 10:13 a.m., arriving just as Hernandez was seen standing near the overpass ledge, agitated and barefoot. Hernandez, wearing a blue T-shirt and gray shorts, was yelling repeatedly for help, shouting, “Someone call 911, please.”
The body camera footage from the officer’s perspective shows the moment of contact, with Hernandez appearing increasingly agitated as the officer attempted to engage with him.
Escalating Tension: Officer Deploys Taser
The situation quickly intensified when the officer tried to grab Hernandez’s arms, causing him to pull away. Hernandez repeatedly shouted, “Officer, what’s your badge number?” The officer responded by drawing his Taser stun gun, warning Hernandez: “Get the (expletive) down or I’m going to tase you.” At 10:14:51, the officer deployed the Taser, shocking Hernandez multiple times as he continued to resist, now on his knees with his hands on his head.
The entire incident can be viewed in the full video on El Paso Times.
Struggle Continues on Freeway
The body camera video shows Hernandez continuing to resist arrest, yelling “Officer, what’s your badge number?” as multiple officers struggled to subdue him. At 10:15:51, another man wearing a black T-shirt and baseball cap joined the effort, assisting the officer as they tried to force Hernandez onto his stomach.
“Roll over (expletive),” the officer commands, but Hernandez refuses, still clenching his teeth. Eventually, Hernandez is held down on the freeway shoulder as more officers arrived.
Despite repeated attempts to subdue him, including handcuffing Hernandez, his condition continued to deteriorate. By 10:27:23, it was clear Hernandez was unresponsive.
Lack of Response and Efforts to Revive Hernandez
As Hernandez was pinned down by officers, one of the officers noted, “He’s not breathing, man.” The officer attempted CPR, which was later continued by a paramedic already present at the scene.
Hernandez was transported to Del Sol Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The El Paso County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide, attributing it to “asphyxia due to chest compression during law enforcement subdual and restraint”, with cocaine toxicity listed as a contributing factor.
Investigation Ongoing
Multiple investigations are underway into Hernandez’s death, including reviews by EPPD’s Crimes Against Persons Unit, Internal Affairs, and the Texas Rangers. Sgt. Robert Gomez, in a statement on the body camera video, said:
“Conclusions on whether the officer’s actions are consistent with the law and department policy will not be made until all facts are known and the investigation is complete.”
As of now, the names of the officers involved have not been disclosed, and the investigation is still ongoing.
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