One of the two former Albuquerque police officers facing second-degree murder charges for shooting and killing James Boyd took the stand in his own defense on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
Dominique Perez and his defense attorney reviewed鈥攆rame by frame鈥� of the homeless camper being shot in the Sandia Foothills.
In the video, Boyd says 鈥渄on鈥檛 change up the agreement,鈥� and looks like he鈥檚 gathering up his things and preparing to leave his illegal campsite. That鈥檚 when an officer threw a diversionary device called a flash-bang at him.
Perez explained why police didn鈥檛 just let him come down the hill.
"We have the situation in somewhat of a containment at that point," Perez said. "You don鈥檛 want the suspect to dictate and start moving your containment, especially towards the citizens and towards the public."
Perez said they were also concerned about what Boyd might have had in his bags, since he鈥檇 been threatening to kill officers.
In the video, a dog is released, Boyd drops his bags, and officers yell for him to get on the ground. Keith Sandy and Perez fire their rifles.
Boyd died later at the hospital and the two officers are facing up to 15 years in prison.
