Otero County deputy charged with murder of teen last summer

Otero County deputy charged with first-degree murder

Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman has charged Otero County Deputy Elijah Hadley with first-degree murder in the shooting of a 17-year-old last June.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced in a press release that he is charging an Otero County Sheriff’s Deputy with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a teen boy last summer.

On June 25, 2024, Deputy Jacob Diaz was dispatched to perform a welfare check on 17-year-old Elijah Hadley. The deputy discovered the teen walking along Highway 70, and shot him multiple times after a confrontation.

Last July, prosecutors in the 12th Judicial District said the case would become a conflict of interest, and it was passed along to Bregman’s office.

Bregman and Chief Deputy District Attorney Natalie Lyon will prosecute this case.

Click on the video above for more details, including lapel camera footage of the shooting.