Witness says Felipe Vazquez had talked before about shooting at police

COLUMBUS, Neb. (KLKN) – The gun was in position to fire, and the man on trial had expressed a willingness to shoot at police.

That’s what witnesses told jurors on Tuesday at the trial of Felipe Vazquez in the slaying of Lincoln Police Department Investigator Mario Herrera.

A bloody gun was found in a glove on the back porch of the home where Vazquez was arrested, police say.

The gun was found loaded and with the safety off.

“That’s in a position of fire, and the hammer back would indicate that either it’s been racked to put the hammer back or that it had been fired,” LPD Sgt. Christopher Weber said.

Mayte Brown, the mother of Orion Ross’ child, spoke about a conversation she had with him and Felipe Vazquez around May 2020.

“During our conversation, (Vazquez) said something along the lines of he wasn’t worried about getting picked up on a prior,” Brown said.

“So you’re saying there was another incident that he was involved in?” defense attorney Nancy Peterson asked.

“Yes,” Brown said.

“And he said he wasn’t worried about that?” Peterson asked.

“Yes, someone else was charged with that, but if he were to be picked up for that, then he would shoot at police or try to kill them,” Brown said. “I don’t know exactly what the words were; it was something very similar of the sort, yes.”

The defense argued that Brown had previously been convicted of lying to officers.

Brown said she has a personality disorder and is unable to recall being charged with that.

In the last month, Ross, who was with Vazquez at the time of the shooting, has faced more charges.

“You would do anything to get Orion out sooner?”

“No, I would not. Nope,” Brown said.

Text messages were provided showing Brown insinuating that she would help Ross get out of jail.

“You said that, that you would sell your soul to get him out?” Peterson asked.

Brown acknowledged that she did but said she was exaggerating.

“So sometimes people say things that they do not mean just to let off steam, correct?” Peterson said.

“Yes,” Brown responded.

“Just like Felipe seemed to be talking tough when he said what he said, correct?” Peterson asked.

“Yes,” Brown said.

Erik Delaney, who owns the house where Vazquez was arrested, told the jury about the moment he encountered him.

“I heard another wrestling kind of noise.  I looked to my right, where the HVAC unit was, and I saw a shirt or a piece of clothing sticking out from the HVAC unit.  I pronounced my voice a little loud and said words to the effect of, ‘I can see you back there; you’re going to want to come out,’ ” Delaney said.