A newly-released El Paso police body camera video shows a struggle quickly intensifying, ending in the death of a man on Interstate 10.
Xavier Guadalupe Hernandez, 30, was on the side of a busy I-10 freeway, apparently threatening to jump over the ledge above the Yarbrough Drive overpass, when an officer arrived on July 13 on the East Side, according to an EPPD video of the incident released on Monday, Aug. 18.
Hernandez’s death was deemed a homicide by the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office. An autopsy report stated his death was caused by “asphyxia due to chest compression during law enforcement subdual and restrain” with cocaine toxicity as a “significant contributing condition.”
An image from a body camera video shows as an El Paso police officer points a Taser at Xavier Guadalupe Hernandez, 30, as he kneels on the asphalt on the shoulder of Interstate 10 during a struggle ending with Hernandez’s death on July 13, 2025, in El Paso, Texas.
Three separate investigations by the El Paso Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Unit, Internal Affairs and the Texas Rangers of the Texas Department of Public Safety continue looking into the death, police spokesman Sgt. Robert Gomez said Monday in the 11-minute EPPD video, including body camera video.
“Conclusions on whether the officer’s actions are consistent with the law and department policy will not be made until all facts are known and the investigation is complete,” Gomez said on the video statement.
The names of the officers involved have not been disclosed.
More: El Paso medical examiner rules man who died in police struggle as a homicide
The body camera video begins at 10:13 a.m., showing a police officer driving up to the median and then seeing Hernandez on the other side of four freeway lanes of traffic on the edge of the overpass.
Hernandez is wearing a sweaty blue T-shirt and gray shorts. He has no shoes on, only black socks and appears agitated.
“Someone call 911, please,” he repeatedly yells as the officer walks up to him. The officer tells him that help is here, according to the video.
‘Officer, what’s your badge number?’
The video shows the officer telling Hernandez to sit down, but the situation intensifies when the officer attempts to grab Hernandez by his arms and Hernandez pulls away.
“Officer, what’s your badge number?” Hernandez repeatedly begins yelling.
“Get the (expletive) down or I’m going to tase you,” the officer yells, drawing his yellow Taser electric stun gun as Hernandez gets on his knees, his hands on the top of his head, the video shows.
The officer orders Hernandez to lie down. He doesn’t and the officer deploys the Taser as Hernandez yells, continuing to repeatedly say “Officer, what’s your badge number?”
The first Taser shot is at the 10:14:51 timestamp on the body camera video. There are repeated Taser shocks as a struggle continues with Hernandez still on the ground. “Get the (expletive) down!,” the officer yells on the video.
More: Man’s death in I-10 struggle during El Paso police arrest under investigation
Body camera time 10:15:51: A man in a black T-shirt and black baseball cap runs up to help the officer wrestle Hernandez, who is on his back, teeth clenched and refusing to roll over onto his stomach. “Roll over (expletive),” the officer orders.
“Officer, what’s your badge number?” Hernandez keeps repeating in between screams before the officer and two other men are able to pin him down on the asphalt, the video shows. The officer never tells Hernandez his badge number.
Eventually, other police officers arrive and Hernandez is held down on the shoulder of the freeway.
“Help me,” Hernandez appears to say as he is held down as police officers discuss getting shackles to transport him in an ambulance. “Chill out,” someone tells Hernandez, who has become quiet.
Body camera time 10:27:23: A police sergeant is holding Hernandez facedown with another officer at his legs. Hernandez, by that time, is handcuffed behind his back.
Xavier Guadalupe Hernandez, 30, of El Paso, died in what an autopsy deemed a homicide from asphyxia due to chest compression during a struggle with El Paso police officers on the Interstate 10 freeway in El Paso, Texas, on July 13, 2025.
“He’s not breathing, man,” an officer said on the video after another officer noticed that Hernandez was not breathing and he was rolled over. A police officer begins CPR, which is then continued by a paramedic already at the scene.
Hernandez was taken to nearby Del Sol Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso police bodycam video shows death of man in struggle with officer
