By Chris Bolin
Greeley Tribune, Colo.
LASALLE, Colo. — A former LaSalle police officer who fatally shot a man outside a Family Dollar in May 2023 will appear in Weld District Court in April for sentencing after pleading guilty to manslaughter as part of a plea deal.
Erik Hernandez , 36, appeared Monday in front of District Judge Marcelo Kopcow for a disposition hearing, in which Hernandez entered the plea agreement lessening the charge from second-degree murder, according to a release from the Weld County District Attorney’s Office.
Hernandez could face up to six years in either Community Corrections or the Colorado Department of Corrections , followed by two years of parole. The court also has the option of sentencing Hernandez to an unlimited length of probation, with the potential of incarceration of up to two years, according to the release.
While following up on a complaint about a suspicious vehicle, Hernandez — who was in his third day on the job as a LaSalle police officer — and another officer encountered a vehicle that had been backed into a parking space beside the store. The two officers parked their patrol vehicle to prevent the vehicle from leaving the lot and went inside to look for the owner.
While inside, the two spotted Reffel, who fled the suspicious vehicle when he saw police. The two officers pursued him outside as he ran to the car in the lot.
Reffel started the vehicle as officers yelled for him to get out and put the car in reverse to clear space between his vehicle and the patrol car.
As Reffel put the car in drive and began to speed away, Hernandez fired four shots into the driver’s side door, striking Reffel in the upper torso and killing him almost immediately.
The Weld Critical Incident Response Team investigated the shooting, which was then referred to the Weld County Grand Jury. The grand jury indicted Hernandez on a second-degree murder charge in June 2023 . He pleaded not guilty in early February.
Hernandez went on trial Oct. 21 . After an eight-day trial and two days of jury deliberation, a mistrial was declared on Nov. 1 due to the jury being unable to come to a unanimous decision, records show.
A new trial was originally set for March, before Hernandez entered into the plea deal Monday.
Hernandez’s sentencing is set for 3:30 p.m. April 25 in Division 16 of Weld District Court .
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