LaSalle police officer who shot, killed man driving away from Family Dollar charged with murder by Weld County grand jury

A Colorado police officer has been charged with murder.

A Weld County grand jury issued an indictment of Officer Erik Hernandez with the LaSalle Police Department.

Hernandez is accused of shooting and killing Juston Reffel on May 3 at a Family Dollar store in LaSalle, just south of Greeley. He was at the store responding to a complaint about a suspicious vehicle.

Hernandez shot and killed Reffel, 38, while Reffel was trying to drive away, according to the indictment. Hernandez shot at Reffel as he drove away from the store, striking him in the torso, according to the indictment and autopsy report.

Hernandez is now charged with second-degree murder, a class-2 felony.

In Colorado, a second-degree murder charge says that the defendant knowingly acted in a way that could kill someone. It doesn't require accusations of intent or prior planning, the way a first-degree murder charge would. If convicted, Hernandez could face up to 48 years in prison and fines of up to $1,000,000.