Agent Eliezer Hernandez-Cartagena
Officer: Carolina Police Department, Agent Eliezer Hernandez-Cartagena
Date: 1/11/2021 Location: Carolina, Puerto Rico FACTORS (1,2,4,8,11,19)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: David Rivera Batiz
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Batiz was a known member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and had prior arrests for stolen vehicles and weapons violations./Yes, Batiz ambushed the officers with an illegally possessed weapon.
Mental Illness: None stated, however, Batiz demonstrated anti-social, psychotic behavior.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown./None stated.
Race/Sex/Age: Latino/Male/25
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? On January 11, 2021, Agent Eliezer Hernandez-Cartagena responded along with Puerto Rico Police Agent Marrero-Diaz to pursue David Batiz after he murdered Police Agent Salaman-Conde and fled in a stolen vehicle.
Actions taken by subject toward police: Batiz stopped during the pursuit and opened fire on the officers, fatally shooting his AK-47 at Agent Marrero-Diaz. Batiz then drove off in the stolen vehicle, fatally running over Agent Hernandez-Cartagena.
Reactions by the police: Batiz was gone by the time other officers arrived at the scene of the dead officers, so an intense manhunt was initiated.
How murdered? Agent Hernandez-Cartagena was run over during a car pursuit of a known cop-killer.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Without more information it is difficult to comment on what could have been done differently considering Agent Hernandez-Cartagena faced a subject armed with a semi-automatic rifle. It is unknown if the Agent managed to shoot at Batiz as Batiz drove his vehicle at and ultimately ran over Hernandez-Cartagena.
Would the officer had been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? Agent Hernandez-Cartagena was justified to use deadly force upon seeing Batiz as he was suspected of killing a cop and was an armed and dangerous fleeing felon. Additionally, Agent Hernandez-Cartagena would have been justified to shoot Batiz as Batiz drove the vehicle at him.
Outcome for the cop-killer: In a rare display of presumed street justice, a day after executing the officers, Batiz was found shot dead and with a sign around his neck saying he was the murderer.
