Closing arguments in Vazquez trial focus on intent; deliberations begin

COLUMBUS, Neb. (KLKN) – Felipe Vazquez now awaits the jurors’ decision, as his trial wrapped up on Monday.

Vazquez admits to killing Lincoln Police Investigator Mario Herrera but testified that he was only trying to scare officers so he could escape.

“A man has lost his life, and a teenager was responsible for that,” defense attorney Nancy Peterson said. “What could be more tragic?”

The defense argued that the slaying was not premeditated and that Vazquez never intended to kill Herrera.

“Vazquez did not intend to shoot anyone,” Peterson said.  “His plan was to shoot at the tree, cause a distraction that would cause the officers to duck and take cover and that would allow him to run away.”

The prosecution argued that Vazquez’s actions were premeditated.

“He’s talking to his girlfriend telling her he loves her, why?  He knows exactly what he is going to do,” Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon said. “He’s going out that window, he is shooting at a cop and there is a likelihood that cop is going to shoot back, or the cop with the shield is going to shoot back and he isn’t going to be around after that day.”

The prosecution says that during negotiations, Vazquez was probing the situation.

“He knows that is a very small hallway, he knows if he tries to go out there and he has four or five officers with guns at him and he tries to go out there with a gun, he is not coming out of there alive,” Condon said.

Condon told jurors that the evidence presented shows that Vazquez fired first.

“He says, ‘Hey, hey, hey, get on the ground, get on the ground.  He is also drawing Mr. Vazquez’s fire.  The first shot, boom, you hear officer Herrera start to scream,” Condon said. “Now it’s your turn to tell Felipe Vazquez, it’s over.”

The jury is also considering six lesser counts against Vazquez.

If jurors do not reach a verdict by 9 p.m. Monday, they will be sequestered overnight.

“Investigator Luis Mario Herrera died from medical complications as a result of a single gunshot wound to the chest left to right entry and exit downward.  Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to return a verdict of guilty on all seven counts,” Condon said.