Who is Facundo Chavez, the man sentenced to death for killing El Paso Sheriff Deputy Peter Herrera?

Facundo Chavez is a 32-year-old man who has been convicted of capital murder by a peace officer and sentenced to death by an El Paso jury. He is the killer of Peter Herrera, an El Paso County sheriff’s deputy who was shot and beaten during a traffic stop in San Elizario in 2019.

The fatal shooting of Deputy Peter Herrera

On March 22, 2019, around 1:50 a.m., Herrera pulled over Chavez and his girlfriend, Arlene Piña, for two traffic violations: failing to dim high-beam headlights and improperly displaying a temporary license plate permit. Herrera asked Chavez to exit his vehicle. Chavez got out of the car and immediately began shooting at Herrera with a handgun. He fired about 15 rounds at point-blank range before the gun jammed. He then beat Herrera with the gun and fled the scene with Piña. Herrera was left lying in a pool of blood on the road.

Another deputy arrived at the scene and performed first aid on Herrera, who was then taken to Del Sol Medical Center. After two days, Peter Herrera died from his injuries.

Chavez and Piña were later found by U.S. Border Patrol agents. They were hiding in a shed on the property of a nearby house. They were arrested and charged with capital murder.

The trial and sentencing of Facundo Chavez

The trial of Facundo Chavez began on July 26, 2023, in the Criminal District Court 1 at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in Downtown El Paso. Judge Diane Navarrete presided over the trial. The prosecution team consisted of Assistant District Attorneys Michelle Hill, Will Dixon, and Rick Locke. The defense team consisted of attorneys Louis Lopez, Leonard Morales, Brock Benjamin, and Miriam Cruz.

The jury of nine women and three men took less than 30 minutes to find Chavez guilty of capital murder of a peace officer on Aug. 3, 2023. The same jury then deliberated for nearly 10 hours over two days to decide whether Chavez should receive the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

The prosecution presented evidence of Chavez’s previous criminal history, which included convictions for burglary, theft, assault, and drug possession. They also showed graphic videos from Herrera’s body camera and the patrol vehicle’s dashboard camera, as well as another deputy’s body camera, during the shooting. They argued that Chavez showed no remorse for his actions and deserved the ultimate punishment.

The defense presented evidence of Chavez’s alleged abusive childhood, which included physical violence from his father and sexual abuse from a relative. They also had Chavez take the stand twice and confess to the crime. They argued that Chavez was mentally ill and acted impulsively under the influence of drugs. They pleaded for mercy and asked the jury to spare his life.

On Aug. 9, 2023, the jury reached a unanimous verdict and sentenced Chavez to death by lethal injection. He will be transferred to death row at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Polunsky Unit in Livingston.

The impact of Deputy Peter Herrera’s death

Deputy Peter Herrera was a beloved member of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and the community. He had served as a deputy for more than 11 years and was assigned to the patrol division. He was also a member of the SWAT team and the honor guard. He was married to Ashley Herrera, who also works as a deputy for the same agency. He had two children from a previous marriage.

Herrera’s death sparked an outpouring of grief and support from his family, friends, coworkers and fellow law enforcement officers. His funeral service was attended by hundreds of people who paid their respects and honored his memory. His name was added to the Texas Peace Officers’ Memorial in Austin and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C.

Herrera’s family testified during the sentencing phase of the trial about the heartbreak and pain they have suffered in losing their husband, son, brother, and nephew. They said they miss him every day and struggle to cope with his absence. They said they are proud of his service and legacy, but also angry and hurt by his senseless killing.

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