City settles suit over death of boy in crash

The city of Albuquerque has settled a lawsuit brought by the family of a boy who was killed in a car wreck with an on-duty police officer for $3.8 million.

Joel Anthony Suina, 6, was killed after being in a crash near Eubank and Indian School in Northeast Albuquerque. His mother was turning onto Indian School when they were struck by Albuquerque police officer Johnathan McDonnell, who was speeding to a 911 call at a nearby grocery store.

Gilbert Gallegos, a police spokesman, confirmed the settlement amount Thursday. He said it’s one of the last lawsuits pending for something that happened during the prior police administration.

An attorney for the Suina family couldn’t be reached for comment. Duwin Perez-Cordova, 27, died in a shooting in Madera, Chihuahua, on Aug. 18.

She did not have further details on the shooting.

BCSO had been searching for Perez-Cordova since he escaped the Metropolitan Detention Center on June 10 by pretending to be a cellmate, Edwin Sanchez, who was set to be released.

According to court documents, Perez-Cordova trimmed his facial hair to look like Sanchez and used Sanchez’s ID wristband to fool jail staff.

Sanchez has been charged with aiding in Perez’s escape.

Perez-Cordova had been in jail since December 2017 on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after federal authorities say he shot and injured a man outside a laundromat and carwash in southwest Albuquerque.