Nogales officer killed in line of duty is mourned
NOGALES — Geneive Bunting embraced her mother with both arms as she sobbed loudly into her daughter’s shoulder at a freeway overpass overlooking Interstate 19.
Below them, the body of slain Nogales Police Officer Jesus “Chuy” Cordova was being driven to the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office in Tucson. An escort of dozens of local, state and federal law enforcement vehicles, all with lights flashing, traveled alongside the fallen officer.
At the overpass, local firefighters had set up their trucks and raised a large ladder waving an American flag. As a blur of red and blue lights lit up the night, streaming over the desert hills that dot the Nogales landscape, the firefighters stood at attention.
Around them, parked cars with emergency lights on, surrounded the streets alongside the freeway. Their drivers, nearly 100 of them, walked to the overpass and packed the south-facing bridge. Some stood quietly watching the caravan of law enforcement guard Cordova. Others held cell phones, recording the solemn procession below.
Others like Bunting, couldn’t hold back tears, thinking about memories she’d shared with Cordova, more affectionately known by his Nogales neighbors as “Chuy.”
“He was my mom’s best friend, so he would always be at the house,” she said. “He was a very loving man. He was finally happy.”
Cordova’s life ended Friday, after he responded to a carjacking in the north side of Nogales. It’s the first officer fatality in the city in 130 years, underscoring the shock reverberating through this close-knit border community, where people like to say they know their neighbors in a town of about 20,000.
The alleged shooter, identified as David Ernesto Murillo, fired at the 44-year-old officer multiple times before fleeing. Cordova was transported to a local hospital, where he later passed away.
News of his death left the community in disbelief, mourning an officer who died in the line of duty, leaving behind three children and a pregnant fiancee.
Cordova, a lifelong Nogales resident, had worked for nearly a decade as a detective with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff ’s Office, before joining the Nogales police force last year.
In that time, he made connections with people all over the border community he called home.
Albert Ibarra, a captain for the Rio Rico Fire Department, had known the officer for about six years. They often ran into each other doing law-enforcement and emergency-response work.
“We were on scenes, chaotic scenes and he would always keep calm,” he said. “He was always very polite, very respectful and professional all the time, on duty and off duty.”
For Bunting, the connection was more personal. Both of her parents are police officers, and Cordova had played a big part in her life growing up. Most recently, he had even attended her high-school graduation.
“I hope they remember him as a loving father,” she recalled. “He finally had a family. He always wanted to be a father.”
With his passing, Cordova leaves behind three children and a pregnant fiancee.
“He loved kids, even if they weren’t his, not even related to him,” Bunting added. “He still loved them as nephews and nieces, and would invite them over to his ranch for horses and give them a childhood they would remember.”
By Saturday afternoon, many questions remained about Cordova’s death, but few details were available. Police investigators had cleared up the scene of the shooting on Mesa Verde Drive.
That allowed the owners of Villa’s Market to open up their doors once again. They were forced to shut down after police cordoned off the area in front of the store after the shooting.
Manager Sergio Villa, whose father owns the store, said he didn’t know Cordova personally, but that it’s such small community that he would see him often.
“He was a good customer here at the store,” he said. “We’re gonna miss him.”
Villa said relatives of the officer had called him about possibly setting up a memorial by the store. He quickly agreed.
Residents also began leaving flowers outside the Nogales Police Department on Saturday morning. A large black bow hung over the entrance. A large American flag flew at half-mast just outside the department.
Gov. Doug Ducey extended prayers and condolences to Cordova’s family and loved ones. He ordered all state flags to fly at half-mast Monday.
“This tragedy is a solemn reminder of the sacrifices that police officers make daily to keep our communities safe,” Ducey said in a tweet Friday.