A retired FBI agent was allegedly armed with a “large rock” after breaking windows when he was fatally shot by an El Paso school district police officer at Franklin High School last month, according to a custodial death report.
The report filed by the El Paso Independent School District Police Department provided new information, but questions remain as a Texas Rangers-lead investigation continues into the death of retired Special Agent Julio César Cordero on Aug. 22.
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Cordero, 56, was a decorated FBI agent who had lead Operation Poisoned Pawns, one of the biggest public corruption investigations in El Paso’s history, but since his retirement struggled with deteriorating mental health.
Cordero, who was in the FBI from 1996 to 2019, was dealing with manic episodes, paranoia and PTSD symptoms. He would take medication, get well and would then stop and the cycle continued, his brother said in news interviews. Cordero was the father of four, his son attends Franklin High.
Cordero “dedicated his life to serving and protecting his community, embodying unwavering integrity and courage,” an obituary stated. “His commitment to law enforcement earned him accolades and the respect of his colleagues and the public alike.
“Beyond his professional achievements, Julio César Cordero was a loving and supportive father. His greatest joy came from his family,” the obituary added.
Funeral visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, at Sunset Funeral Home East, 750 N. Carolina Drive. A funeral Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1118 N. Mesa St.
EPISD Police: Retired FBI agent was armed with ‘large rock’
The shooting occurred at 6:35 a.m. on Aug. 22 outside Franklin High School before classes started for the day at the school at 900 Resler Drive in West El Paso, according to the custodial death report.
Texas police agencies are required to file such reports with the state attorney general’s office whenever someone dies in custody or at the hands of a law enforcement officer.
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According to the report, the EPISD Police Department stated that Cordero was armed with a “large rock” and “attempted to injure law enforcement personnel.” The size of the rock was not described further.
What happened at Franklin High School?
The confrontation between an EPISD police officer and Cordero on the Franklin High School campus is summarized as follows in the custodial death report:
“The officer responded to a 911 call regarding a male breaking windows at the high school,” the report stated. “The preliminary investigation shows the officer arrived and was confronted by the male suspect, who failed to comply with verbal orders. After an attempt to detain the suspect using less-lethal methods was unsuccessful, the suspect picked up a large rock and moved toward the officer. The officer then shot the suspect. The suspect succumbed to his injuries on scene.”
The report does not say what were the “less-lethal methods” utilized, nor does it explain in what proximity Cordero was to the officer and how many times he was shot.
EPISD police are armed law enforcement officers with the same arrest powers as city police. The EPISD Police Department was established in 1989 and is tasked with protecting students, teachers and staff, schools and district facilities.
Investigation looks at retired El Paso FBI agent’s death
The Texas Rangers is the lead agency investigating the fatal police shooting of Cordero with assistance from the El Paso Police Department, officials said.
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A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety on Monday said that the investigation is still ongoing.
EPISD is also conducting its own administrative investigation into the deadly confrontation.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Ex-FBI agent had ‘large rock’ when fatally shot, EPISD police say
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